The CPI-M on Monday said the formation of a grand-alliance at the national level was not possible through the party may think about it at the appropriate time but asserted that the priority was to defeat the BJP.
Party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told the media that a "mahagatbandhan" was not possible at the national level.
"It may mean an alliance of the SP (Samajwadi Party) and BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) and allies in Uttar Pradesh. And in Bihar, it will be led by RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal). This is what I am saying.
"We will decide on joining the 'mahagatbandhan' when the time comes. Let things crystallise. For now, our priority is to defeat the BJP and ensure formation of a secular government," said the Marxist leader after a CPI-M Central Committee meeting.
If attempts were made to form pre-poll alliances in the states, the CPI-M would support them in order to pull down the BJP, Yechury said.
"If the SP and BSP come together, we will be with them to defeat the BJP. In Bihar, we will support if the RJD and other secular forces join hands," he said.
Asked if the Communist Party of India-Marxist would back Congress candidates where it would not field candidates, Yechury appeared to nod in the affirmation.
The electoral tactics would be worked out to maximize putting together anti-BJP votes, he added.
The former Rajya Sabha member said the task was to defeat the BJP to save India and defeat the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to save West Bengal.
"We will work for the defeat of both (BJP and TMC) in Bengal... We will ensure this happens.
"In Telangana, our objective is to defeat the BJP and ruling TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti")."
Asked about the talk of Rahul Gandhi becoming Prime Minister in 2019, Yechury said: "Someone told me in 2004 that Sonia Gandhi was ready to become the Prime Minister. But did she become?
"Do not predict about Indian politics... Decisions will be taken as the situation unfolds," he said.
Yechury said his party welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala temple and said the RSS and BJP were opposing it for their political agenda to polarise people.
He dared the BJP to bring a legislation in Parliament if it wanted to overturn the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages in the temple.
The Left party condemned the ongoing violence in Gujarat against migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and attacks against CPI-M workers in Tripura.
He also demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale deal, saying BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not succeeded in their "cover up" efforts.
It was a major case of corruption, which had affected the country's sovereignty and security, he added.
Yechury said there was no need of money trail -- as claimed by the BJP -- to prove it as a scam because "law of political funding has so changed that anybody can buy electoral bonds, (which) are unknown, unaccountable. These bonds can be passed on to anybody".
Catch up on all the latest <a title="mid-day news" href="https://www.mid-day.com/news" target="_blank">Crime, National, International and Hatke news</a> here. Also, download the new mid-day <a title="mid-day android app " href="https://goo.gl/8Xlcvr" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a title="mid-day iOS app" href="https://goo.gl/KQziH4" target="_blank">iOS</a> apps to get the latest updates
<div id=":74.co" class="JL">
<div id=":74.co" class="JL" style="text-align: justify;">This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Except for the change in the headline, the story has been provided "AS-IS," "AS AVAILABLE, without any verification or editing from our side. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.</div>
</div>

India lauds Tajikistan's fight against radicalisation

Party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told the media that a "mahagatbandhan" was not possible at the national level

Grand alliance not possible at national level: Sitaram Yechury

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / News / India News / Article / Grand alliance not possible at national level: Sitaram Yechury

Grand alliance not possible at national level: Sitaram Yechury

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast