CPM to fight Cong, BJP allies in Assam

GUWAHATI, April 5: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) politburo members, Prakash Karat today called upon all Left and secular parties to come together to fight Congress and BJP allies in the forthcoming Assembly polls. Addressing a press conference here this morning, the CPM leader while branding AGP-BJP tie-up a "desperately opportunistic" one said for his party, the four-party alliance in the State cease to exist the day AGP went the BJP way. Stating that the CPM will stick to its national agenda of fighting both the Congress and the BJP in all the five States going to polls on May 10 next, Karat ruled out possibility of having understanding with any party which has any relation with the Congress. Meanwhile, the CPM has decided to contest at least 20 seats in the State in the ensuing polls and the list of its candidates is just awaiting for formal announcement. He added that in other seats, the CPM was open to have adjustment with other like-minded Left and secular parties willing to fight both Congress and the BJP. Talking about the effort at the national level to form a People's Front comprising CPM, CPI, RJD, RSP, Janata Dal(S), Samajwadi Party, Karat informed that there was no likelihood of concretisation of the effort, before the Assembly polls. He informed that the People's Front would be projected as a 'third alternative' to Congress and the BJP and the CPM was not in a hurry to constitute the front keeping an eye on ensuing polls in the five States. "We want a common minimum programme to be put in place for smooth functioning of the front," he added. The CPM alleged that Vajpayee Government in the Centre was not interested in taking action against those exposed to have indulged in gross corruption in a particular defence deal. "It is evident from the fact that the Government has failed to take action against any of the persons involved in the deal while it is harping on that Tehelka tape was a part of conspiracy to destabilise the Government," he said. Referring to the one-man commission of enquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge, Karat said it was merely a cover-up exercise as the terms of reference of enquiry went into the talks about defence deal in general, not the deal exposed in Tehelka tape.