CALCUTTA, FEB 28: Veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Jyoti Basu today stressed the need for reviving the United Front (UF) and reiterated his party's issue-based support to the Congress as an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition at the Centre.Speaking at the completion of the year-long celebrations of the Communist manifesto's 150th anniversary, Basu said the UF, ``has regrettably either split or has weakened considerably over the years''.The CPI (M), he said, would offer ``issue-to-issue'' support to the Congress for forming an alternative government at the Centre.``Our prime objective is to ensure removal of the barbaric and uncivilised communal government at the Centre,'' he added.Suggesting that the CPI (M) would have to look for ``new allies'' in the changed political situation in the country, the West Bengal Chief Minister said, ``We have to follow a `zig-zag path' to get the friendship with different parties to achieve our goal and this is inaccordance with the teachings of the manifesto of Marx and Engels''.Though the Congress' response to his offer has remained unanswered, the CPI (M) leader said, ``We will even be happy if the Congress wins the next elections since we want the exit of the BJP from power at the Centre''.
