Bengal Left seeks third front again

The CPI-M and its allies in West Bengal declared on Sunday that they will work with secular and democratic forces at the national level to form a non-Congress, non-BJP government at the Centre after the coming Lok Sabha elections.

“We have seen what the Congress is like. We know well what the BJP is like. We don't want either to rule at the centre,” said Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at a massive rally on Sunday, as the Left formally launched their election campaign. More than six lakh Left supporters gathered at the heart of the city, choking traffic.

Although the party’s general secretary Prakash Karat and other Politburo members have been talking about a third alternative for more than a year, this was the first time the party made an announcement from an election platform.

“The alternative to the Left cannot be the saffron, green or the tricolour,” Bhattacharjee said amid thunderous applause.

The nine-party coalition is however yet to select its candidates for the state’s 42 Lok Sabha seats.