The Left parties envisage a realignment of political forces in India after the Lok Sabha polls, enabling the 'Third Front' to form an alternative secular government at the Centre without support of Congress or BJP, top Left leaders said here today.
"We have appealed to secular parties to come forward to help form an alternative government. Some have responded now itself and others will respond after the polls", CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury and CPI National Assistant Secretary D Raja said, while separately addressing meet-the- press programmes here today.
"But, the final act of the present political drama in the country will unfold only after polls", Yechury said. Remarking that a 'deep churning' was going on in Indian politics, Yechury said it was not just a game of power politics by persons who have positioned themselves as Prime Ministerial candidate.
"There is real pressure from lower cadres of regional parties for alternative policies to help the poor", he said. Coming down heavily on Congress and BJP for calling the 'third front' a 'motley crowd' and a 'farcical illusion', Raja said both these parties were 'desperate' as a concrete 'third front' was emerging and becoming a reality.
The era of bipolar politics in India was over and the theory that a coalition government at the Centre could only be formed either with the support of Congress or BJP has become a thing of the past, Raja said.
In support of their argument that there would be a realignment of political forces, the leaders pointed out that the emergence of the United Alliance in 1996, NDA in 1998 and UPA in 2004 became a reality after the polls.
"Similarly, a new alliance of secular forces will come into force in 2009 also," Yechury said, pointing out the possibility. Asked whether the 'Third Front' would accept Congress support to form a government at the Centre, both leaders said they are fighting against Congress and BJP and wanted to know how one could expect them to get the support of these parties after fighting them in the polls.
"Our main task now is to strengthen the third force and emerge as the single largest combine to form the government", they said in unison. On the issue of Prime Ministerial candidate, Yechury said there was no dearth of efficient personalities for the post. "However, we are not going to show any disrespect to our democracy and people by naming the Prime Minister (before polls)", he said.
Attacking BJP leader L K Advani for terming the 'third front' as a farcical illusion, Raja said it was Advani who was living in an illusion as he would never become Prime Minister.
