The Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat on Friday said the Left parties were making efforts to form a Third Front as an alternative to both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party although he did not spell out a time frame.

"We have not yet set any timeframe for the formulation of the Third Front, but efforts are on to forge an alternative based on a common programme and policies," Karat, who was in Sriganganagar in connection with a state party convention, told newspersons.

Accusing the United Progressive Alliance government of failing to tackle the 'agricultural crisis' in the country, he said the ruling coalition was fast losing its popularity due to the rising prices and burgeoning unemployment.

He said both the National Democratic Alliance and UPA followed the same economic policies and the common people were feeling the heat of price rise.

"In such a situation Left parties are left with no option but to search for an alternative to both the political fronts," he added.