"An alternative front cannot be formed by merely announcing it. Such a front can only become successful if it is built on the basis of alternative policies and a common programme. There has to be alternative policies which can provide relief to the masses," Yechury told reporters. Asked to comment on CPI (M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's observation that formation of an alternative front is a tough challenge as there are various parties splintered on the basis of religion and caste, Yechury said, "Yes that's true.
"But, I feel that regional parties too are under pressure from their support base to look for alternative policies," he said.
"Without the Left, there can't be alternative policies. We are in touch with Sharad Yadav and other anti-Congress, anti BJP parties," he said. When asked about the announcement of federal front by Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Politburo member said "We are not giving any relevance to it." Yechury noted that he recently had a conversation with Sharad Yadav, whom he had known for four decades, where Yadav had lauded the Left and had said Left is the moral conscience of the country.