Left Front keen to help in formation of secular front

Expressing confidence that the Left parties would be able to solve their `differences' with Congress in the event of them forming a government, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said the Left Front was keen on `helping' in the formation of a secular front.

Expressing confidence that the Left parties would be able to solve their `differences' with Congress in the event of them forming a government, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan on Saturday said the Left Front was keen on `helping' in the formation of a secular front.

HT Image

"Since a majority of secular forces will get elected in the Lok Sabha polls, the prospect of bringing them together does exist. We would definitely like to help in the formation of such a force", Bardhan told reporters here, while denying that foreign origin was an issue.

"The issue of foreign origin does not exist because Congress itself has not decided who will be its Prime Ministerial candidate; it will be decided jointly after the elections", he said.

When asked why the secular front had not been formed before the polls, he said "We have a lot of differences and there was not enough time to sort them out before the polls. I am confident we will be able to do it once the results are out and the picture is clear".

Predicting a `shocking result' for BJP and its allies, Bardhan said they would garner lesser seats than their present tally in Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, adding `non-BJP and non-NDA' forces would then join hands to form the government.

"I am confident that people like Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has distanced himself due to certain compulsions, will join hands with secular forces. I have full confidence in his secular credentials", Bardhan said.