CPI working for a Left, democratic alternative: Bardhan

The Communist Party of India will "interact" with the constituents of United National Progressive Alliance and other parties as part of efforts to forge a credible alternative to Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party on the basis of common programmes and policies.

"We are working for a Left, democratic alternative that is programme-based. We will try to draw the parties, who are talking about building a third front, into our struggle in areas concerning farmers, workers, primary health and education," CPI general secretary A B Bardhan told reporters in Hyderabad.

Without naming specific parties in the UNPA, he referred to their efforts to forge a third front and said any such political alternative should stem from common struggles on people's issues.

"The alternative will not evolve just because some leaders come together and meet merely in terms of electoral politics," the Left leader said.

He said the CPI-M also subscribed to a similar line of thinking.

"We must work for an alternative to Congress and BJP as both these parties pursue similar economic policies that are neo-liberal and foreign policy that takes the country closer to United States," Bardhan said.

On the Telangana issue, he said his party was in favour of granting statehood for the backward region as there was "overwhelming public support" for it.

Putting the onus on the ruling Congress, he said, "If the government brings up a proposal on Telangana in Parliament or Assembly, we will support it."

Asked about CPI-M's stand opposing bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Bardhan said, "I am not sure about the firmness of their opposition to Telangana."