Red patriarch pitches for UPA

However, Basu criticised the Centre for failing to adhere to CMP and kowtowing to the WB, reports Aloke Banerjee.

In what may be music to the Congress's ears but not quite to the red hawks, veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu warned against premature withdrawal of support to the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

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Addressing a May Day rally at Shahid Minar on Monday, Basu said the Congress-led government should continue its full five-year term as "it would give the Left time to consolidate strength" .

"We can pull down this government any day. But we want it to last for five years. It will give us the opportunity to strengthen mass organisation base in the country," Basu said.

The comment is significant in the context that a section of the Left Front -- the RSP and the Forward Bloc -- has been arguing for some time that the Left should reconsider its stand on continuing support to the UPA post-poll.

However, Basu criticised the Centre for failing to adhere to the Common Minimum Programme and kowtowing to the World Bank.