Jyoti Basu favours Cong over RJD

There seems to be a difference of opinion in the CPI(M) on the Congress role in Bihar, in the context of the on-going Assembly elections.

While former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu said the Congress should take the initiative in forming a secular government in Bihar on the lines of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury attacked the Congress for the division of secular votes in the state.

"Had we fought unitedly, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would have been routed from Bihar and Jharkhand as was done in the Lok Sabha elections," Yechury said in Dhanbad today.

Basu, however, said: "We (Left parties) hope that the Congress will take the lead in forming a secular government in Bihar with the help of other secular parties on the lines of the UPA model at the Centre in the eventuality of a hung Assembly."

According to Basu, this was to prevent the Bhar-atiya Janata Party (BJP) from taking advantage of a hung Assembly. It was also a hint that, the CPI(M) would prefer the Congress heading the Bihar government than the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The CPI(M) politburo member said though his party was not very strong in Bihar and was contesting only on a few seats, it favoured unity of secular parties in the post-poll scenario.

During the election campaign, Yechury had criticised the RJD for the condition of law and order in the state.

Yechury said the CPI(M) would play a role in forming a secular government in Jharkhand, though the party was contesting Assembly polls alone. The division of secular votes would ultimately go in favour of the RJD instead of the NDA as caste equation would play a major role there.

CPI leader AB Bardhan has echoed Basu's view. "The Congress and the RJD will be able to form a government together in Bihar with outside support from the Left parties," he said.

On the issue of Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan's statement that he was in the race for the chief minister's post, Basu said: "The other day, I read his statement that President's rule should be imposed in Bihar if the Assembly elections did not throw up a clear majority".