Alienated, Left woes may echo at Budget Session

And within a few hours of this pre-Budget meeting, the Left parliamentary parties will meet to discuss their floor strategy and other issues relevant to the forthcoming session.

It is expected that if Left leaders have reasons to feel unhappy at the discussions with the UPA, that unhappiness will echo in the strategy session in the afternoon and in Parliament.

In private, Left leaders are saying that this Thursday’s meeting is crucial. They are also saying that there is a limit to which the ‘‘Left could be expected to be reasonable’’.

It does not imply any threat to the alliance, rather, a roller coaster ride for the coalition what with RJD strongman Laloo Prasad Yadav also feeling threatened by Congress.

The CPM has already lashed out at UPA’s economic policies. Senior CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury has been caustic but, worse, another key Politburo decision-maker, Prakash Karat has already been saying that ‘‘not much else could have been expected from the UPA’’.

The tone in Karat’s recent statements is enough indication that he does not foresee any remarkable shift in Congress’ economic policies.

In short, a powerful section of the Left has already given up on the possibility of Congress-Left ties improving and are formulating plans to get the best bargain in what could look more like a war of attrition.

As the CPM flexes its muscles at the party’s Kerala conference in Malappuram, the CPI has also targeted Congress at its Bengal state meet in Asansol.

Two days back, the RSP brought together the Left leaders and emphasised the need to rebuild the Third Front.

Some Left leaders are talking of bringing a disillusioned Laloo closer to Mulayam if not to create the Third Front but to keep its possibilities alive and use it to exert more pressure on the Congress.

Forward Bloc leader Debabrata Biswas said in Delhi that at Thursday’s meeting, the issues that would be discussed would include the demand for more spending in social sector like education and health, a social security net in the unorganised sector and more avenues for employment generation.