Facing criticism from its own ranks over its decision to vote against the United Progressive Alliance along with the Bharatiya Janata Party during the trial of strength in the Lok Sabha, the Communist Party of India - Marxist has said it cannot abandon its objective of preventing India from becoming a subordinate of the US just because the saffron party is opposed to the government.

The party said the BJP is opposing the government in the July 22 confidence vote for enforcing early elections, which may give them electoral benefits, but it cannot be a reason for the Left to reconsider its stand.

"As a passenger in a train, one cannot determine or choose who the other co-passengers are. However, because of the co-passengers, one cannot abandon the objective of reaching one's destination. The Left is clear. It shall work to achieve its objective of upholding our national interests and preventing India from becoming a subordinate ally of US imperialism," the CPI-M said in an editorial in the forthcoming issue of party mouthpiece People's Democracy.

The editorial said the Left seeks to defeat the UPA in the trust vote for protecting the country from consequences of the nuclear deal that could affect the country's sovereignty, independent foreign policy and independence to tackle security concerns. Countering Congress' allegations that the Left parties were allowing the return of the communal forces, the party accused the ruling party of being primarily responsible for giving an opportunity to the National Democratic Allaince government to return to power.

The CPI-M noted that the BJP has its own reason for voting against the UPA, as it would like to fructify the nuclear deal under its own governance rather than the Manmohan Singh [Images] government, since it was the NDA that began the strategic relationship with the 'US imperialism'.

"The objective is not and can never be contingent upon who else is voting against this government and for what reasons. If the BJP was so strongly opposed to this deal, then it could have very well moved such a no-confidence motion. The fact that it chose not to do so clearly shows that it does not wish to displease the Bush administration," the editorial said.

The editorial 'Stop Deal -- Defeat Trust Vote' said the BJP has its own reasons for voting against the UPA in its 'restless bid to return to power'.

"None of this, however, can constitute any reason for the Left to reconsider its decision, and thus permit and facilitate India's strategic relationship with US imperialism as the latter's subordinate ally," it said.

 The party said the BJP has been emboldened by the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government after it failed to check the runaway inflation and contain the alleviating misery of agrarians in rural India.