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People's Front comprising Left parties, Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (Secular) has been dissolved following differences over the choice of a presidential candidate, Left party leaders said on Wednesday.
While the Samajwadi Party has endorsed the candidature of the National Democratic Alliance nominee Abdul Kalam for the post of President, the left parties -- CPI, CPI (M), RSP and the Forward Bloc -- in a joint statement rejected Kalam's candidature.
The statement said the post of President should be filled by a person who is familiar with the complexities of the political situation in the country.
The polity is highly fragmented and coalition government, comprising various diverse parties, have been coming into office, it said.
"The events in Gujarat are a serious warning. The state government has connived in the worst ever pogrom against minorities. The rights ensured for all citizens under the Constitution are not enforced in the state," it said.
The Left parties are of the firm opinion that the person occupying the post of President, which is the highest Constitutional political office, must be able to grasp and respond to these developments, the statement said.
Stating that the Front does 'not exist any more', CPM leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet said it would be reorganised and some other forces would be included.
"Samajwadi Party is out of the Front. Mulayam Singh Yadav is no more convenor of the Front," Surjeet said, after a meeting of the Left parties and Janata Dal (S) to decide on the presidential candidate.
Differences arose in the Front when it met on Tuesday during which Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav decided to support the NDA nominee A P J Kalam despite reservations expressed by other Front constituents.
"Samajwadi Party has gone against the view expressed by other constituents," Surjeet said in the presence of other leaders.
Coverage of the election for the 11th President of India
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