Alternate front to BJP, Congress only possibly after 2014 polls: CPI

Patna: Predicting that neither BJP nor Congress would get majority in the Lok Sabha elections, CPI today said an alternative front to these two major political formations could be possible after the polls next year. [caption id=“attachment_1190067” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  CPI flags. Reuters[/caption] Hinting that the Left Front was trying to work out an alternative front at the Centre, senior CPI leader A B Bardhan said a rally would be held at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on October 30 which would be attended by the CPI(M), CPI, JD(U), SP, AIADMK, JD(S) and NCP. Pawan Chamling and Neiphiu Rio, Chief Ministers of Sikkim and Nagaland respectively, would also attend the rally. A concrete discussion on forming the alternative front would take place sometime in December or January, Bardhan told reporters here. He said Congress could win 110-115 seats and BJP 135-140, but neither the UPA nor NDA would be in a position to form the government at the Centre. So the onus would fall on other parties, including regional ones, to take the lead towards forming an alternative alliance or front, he said, adding such an alliance should be formed on the basis of alternative policies and programmes. On keeping Congress out from October 30 rally, Bardhan said though the party was fundamentally a secular one, but due to political conflict on a host of issues no invite has been sent to it. On the RJD being kept out of the rally, the CPI leader said party supremo Lalu Prasad has not been invited as he was jailed after being convicted in the fodder scam last month. PTI