By IANS,
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), which is giving shape to a Third Front, Tuesday said that more parties were likely to join the new formation before the April-May elections.
“There are indications that more secular parties associated with both the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) and UPA (United Progressive Alliance) may join the new force,” said CPI-M politburo member M.K. Pandhe.
His comments followed the dramatic collapse of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Biju Janata Dal (BJD) coalition in Orissa.
The CPI-M leader said differences among the parties in the alliances led by the BJP and the Congress were widening and his party was in touch with like-minded outfits in both the coalitions.
“The small parties within the Congress- and BJP-led alliances are facing difficulties. There are many developments,” Pandhe, a veteran trade union leader, told IANS.
“The BJD’s decision to end their decade-long alliance with the BJP is strong proof that our effort to form an alternative (against the Congress and BJP) is gathering strength,” Pandhe said.
The CPI-M along with its Left allies has already formed an alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), the AIADMK and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).
The launch rally of the future formation would be held in Tumkur near Bangalore Thursday. The rally is being organised by former prime minister and JD-S supremo H.D. Deve Gowda.
Representatives of all the anti-Congress, anti-BJP constituents are expected to attend the rally.
Though the BJD has not revealed its plan, the JD-S leadership has stated that the Orissa party would be invited to the Tumkur rally.