Left parties want Cong to decide first

Amid all the political guessing game, the Left parties maintained that they would reveal their cards only after the Congress names its candidate. The four Left parties — the CPM, CPI, RSP and All India Forward Bloc — account for 4.7% votes in the electoral college that elects the President. Jayanth Jacob reports.

Amid all the political guessing game, the Left parties maintained that they would reveal their cards only after the Congress names its candidate. The four Left parties — the CPM, CPI, RSP and All India Forward Bloc — account for 4.7% votes in the electoral college that elects the President.

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Though taken aback by Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh’s action to nominate Manmohan Singh, besides former President APJ Abdul Kalam and former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, to the post, the Left parties remain undeterred. “We have already said let the Congress propose its candidate. Then we will respond,” CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said.

Left parties will meet once the Congress’s position is clear, he added. “We are watching and assessing the situation,” said CPI national secretary D Raja.