Left must unite to form third front,says Bardhan

Calling for Left unity to offer a non-Congress and non-BJP alternative,CPI general secretary A B Bardhan on Tuesday said the party had started exploring the option of a third front. He also advised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to “distance himself from the BJP” if he wanted to fulfill his secular agenda.

Bardhan was speaking at the inaugural session of the six-day CPI Congress. He said the party had called the CPI(M),Forward Bloc,CPI-ML and RSP leaders to discuss a viable third front on Wednesday. “If some like-minded parties can come together on the basis of a common minimum programme,why cannot Left parties join hands with some parties to offer a secular front to the country?” he said.

“Bihar is still facing problems of law and order and development. There is a lot left for Nitish to achieve. He must ask himself if it is possible with BJP in tow,” he said.