'Left parties cannot form government, only strengthening BJP'

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the Left parties cannot form the government on their own and were working only to strengthen the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the Left parties cannot form the government on their own and were working only to strengthen the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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"I sincerely believe that by themselves they (Left parties) cannot form the government (after the election). They can only divide the secular vote," Manmohan Singh said during an interaction with women journalists in the capital.

"Witting or unwittingly, Left parties are strengthening the BJP," he added.

Speaking if he will take Left support in a post-election scenario to form the government, the Prime Minister said: "I have successfully led a coalition government. For four and a half years, Left was quite happy."

"Only one issue, on the nuclear issue, they parted ways. I have great regard and respect for my Left colleagues. I have repeatedly said that I greatly regret their leaving," Manmohan Singh said.

"As for the future, who can judge. We will cross that bridge when we go there," he added.