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The Left Front, the CPI(M) in particular, is usually the focal point for the convergence of disparate parties to form a third alternative in national politics.
But the 2014 Parliamentary polls could be a bi-polar fight between the United Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance as there may be no third alternative or a national platform for a grand pre-poll alliance of non-Congress and non-BJP parties.
In an interview to Business Line , CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said: “There are a number of non-Congress, non-BJP parties. In the present political situation, we expect them to do well in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections. But, we don’t expect any national level electoral alliance or alternative to emerge.”
While slamming UPA-II as the “most corrupt government since Independence” and the Prime Minister’s record “dismal, particularly on the economy,” Karat said Chief Ministers like J. Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik will play a big role in national politics after the elections.
“There are some able political leaders and competent Chief Ministers such as Naveen Patnaik and Jayalalithaa. Given their contribution, I see no reason why they can’t be playing a bigger role at the national level. Their record in governance is better than (Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra) Modi’s,” said Karat.
Modi factor
Modi, according to Karat, is not the key factor in the Assembly polls and his Prime Ministerial candidature will not become an overriding national issue in the Parliamentary polls.
“Modi has unprecedented support among corporates and the big business. This is reflected in the coverage given to him in the corporate media. Despite this and the touting of the Gujarat model, the reality of Modi as a fanatical Hindutva proponent and his blatant bias towards corporates and the big business will be seen through by the people.”
The CPI(M) and the Left Front had played crucial roles in the earlier Third Front experiments of the National Front government in 1989 and the United Front government in 1996. Karat expects a similar government to be formed after the elections.
> rajesh.ramachandran@thehindu.co.in
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