CPM doubts Sonia’s ability to lead allies

Alarmed by the reversal, the scenario has even prompted the Left to look into the issue of Sonia Gandhi’s leadership vis-a-vis backing her as the prime ministerial-candidate of the (yet to be formed) Opposition coalition for the next Lok Sabha elections. This move comes because a weak Congress does not help the Left against the BJP — its target number one.

Though CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet put the blame on Congress chief ministers and skirts the leadership issue, some party leaders openly expressed doubts about Sonia’s ability to carry the cross. The other issue which was discussed in the CPI(M)’s Politburo meeting is how to counter division of the ‘‘non-secular’’ votes between Congress and smaller non-NDA parties.

The Left leaders are also aware that the need of the hour, before Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls and the LS elections, is to keep the Samajwadi Party and NCP from cutting into the Congress votes.

The need to neutralise the SP-NCP’s spoiler role has set the Left’s sights on the Congress. ‘‘In the present situation, there is no possibility of a Third Front. But there’s a need for the non-BJP parties to come together as a block, which can force the Congress to come down to seat adjustment and joint campaign,’’ a senior Left leader said.

On Sonia’s cadidature for prime minister, the leader said: ‘‘We would cross the bridge when we come to it. It is an open issue. How can it be decided in advance?’’

Making the right sounds, the CPI(M) Politburo today said it is prepared to take on the TDP in the coming Andhra elections and also prepared for the Lok Sabha polls.

‘‘We are ready for an early general election. In Andhra Pradesh, our main thrust will be to defeat the BJP-TDP combine and concentrate on our basic seats,’’ Sitaram Yechury said after the one-day meeting of the party’s decision-making body.