'Alternate coalition agenda post poll'

CPI-M said the leaders of the alternate alliance should formulate a minimum programme and elect a leader after polls.

The CPI-M on Saturday said in the event of the alternative coalition getting majority to form a government at the centre, the leaders of the alliance should sit together to formulate a minimum programme and elect a leader.

HT Image

"Our party is thinking of a situation similar to 1996 (United Front government), where many party had no pre-poll alliances and later sat together to formulate a minimum programme. We will consult and take a decision on who will head the coalition", senior Poltiburo member Prakash Karat, told newsmen here.

He said for such an alternative to BJP-led coalition, the recommendations of Sarakaria Commission on centre-state relations 'could be' a guiding principle.

Karat said during the last few days, Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee had been talking about having new allies, which only indicated that BJP and its allies were "badly slipping". Envisaging a "likely reversal and seeing the possibility of BJP and allies falling short of majority, the Prime Minister is talking about new post-poll allies", he said.

BJP was "spreading confusion" about SP leader Mulayam Singh after becoming aware that it was unlikely to defeat Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh

Asked whether SP was likely to support Congress, he said one should not forget that Mulayam Singh had supported the UF government and was a minister in it.