We never left the Left, we are open: Cong

In yet another hint of a warming up of Left-Congress ties ahead of Lok Sabha poll, the lead party of the UPA said it never burnt the bridge with its erstwhile outside supporters and "we are open".

In yet another hint of a warming up of Left-Congress ties ahead of Lok Sabha poll, the lead party of the UPA on Monday said it never burnt the bridge with its erstwhile outside supporters and "we are open".

HT Image

"The Left has left us. We did not leave them," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in New Delhi.

Asked whether Congress was trying to mend fences with the Left, Singhvi said since Congress never broke them, "we are open".

His remarks came a few days after CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat did not ruled out supporting a secular government of which Congress may be a part but not its leader. "I can't rule it out but it seems unlikely," he had said in an interview.

Singhvi said it was important to ask whether any party other than Congress has the strength to lead the secular front at the national level.

"This question should be asked to Karat," he said and wondered if they would not playing into the hands of communal elements by not supporting Congress.