Hyderabad, July 10: A day after Congress declared its readiness for coalition arrangements with secular parties, the CPI (M) today said it would "definitely consider extending support" to a Congress-led alliance in the post-poll scenario but ruled out "any front or alliance" with the party. "Our main objective is to prevent communal forces, represented by BJP, from coming to power. Towards this direction, we will support a secular alternative formation," CPI (m) politburo member Sitharam Yechuri told reporters here.
Pointing out that formation of a third front, as an alternative to BJP and Congress-led formations, would take "some time", he said adding, "In the meantime, wherever elections are held, our priority will be to ensure defeat of communal forces and its combinations." While firmly ruling out any electoral alliance with Congress since it represents the "same ruling classes as that of BJP", the CPM leader was, however, unwilling to put any time-frame for the third front to become a reality.
"It is not just an electoral alternative but a coming together of like-minded parties and organisations through common struggles," he said. Welcoming Congress president Sonia Gandhi's statement, at her party's brainstorming session in Shimla, expressing willingness to forge alliances, Yechuri said, "It is good that Congress has realised that its illusion of coming to power on its own is unrealistic." Bureau Report