UPA allies reach out to Left

Three leading non-Congress leaders in the UPA,Sharad Pawar,Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan,on Thursday reached out to Left parties....

Three leading non-Congress leaders in the UPA,Sharad Pawar,Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan,on Thursday reached out to Left parties,describing them as our friends whose blessings could be required post-polls for government formation at the Centre. But CPIM general secretary Prakash Karat remained firm that the Left parties would not help bail out a Congress-led coalition,saying no government is possible with the Congress.

The Congress,on the other hand,said it would decide on taking Left support after the election results. There is no rule that we will not talk to the Left under any circumstances8230; It all depends on the figures after the elections, party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

Pawar and Paswan,however,differed on the issue of the UPAs PM candidate. While the NCP chief said that a decision would be taken later,the LJP leader rooted for Manmohan Singh.

Pawar told reporters: I honestly feel that this time we require the blessings and support of the Left parties. That is why from the first day,I am consistently saying to all my colleagues in the UPA that let us keep good rapport with the Left.

They Left parties have been supporting us. The credit goes to the Left also that we were able to give the country a stable government, he added.

Striking a similar note,RJD chief Lalu Prasad said doors were still open for a post-poll alliance with the Left in the event of the UPA not being in a position to form a government. We had differences with the Left only over the nuclear deal and nothing else. We have been friends with CPIM for a long time, he told reporters in Patna.

Paswan,who is contesting the elections along with the RJD in Bihar,too maintained that the UPA was not opposed to the Left. Hum log kabhi bhi Left ke virodh mein nahin hain8230; Hum hamesha chahte hain ki Left secular forces ke saath rahe We are never opposed to the Left8230; We always want that the Left parties remain with secular forces.

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To another question,Paswan said no talks have taken place with Left leaders so far on government-formation at the Centre.

On the issue of the prime ministerial candidate,Pawar refused to toe the Congress line,saying a decision on the UPA Prime Minister can be taken only after a meeting of its allies. Congress has every right to declare Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. But when you take a decision on behalf of the UPA,you will have to sit together with allies and decide. It is premature at this stage to discuss this issue8230; UPA constituents will decide their leader in just one sitting. UPA partners will be able to resolve the leadership issue to offer a stable government, he said.

But Paswan threw his weight behind Singh,saying the LJP stands by him. We would like Manmohan Singh to be the Prime Minister, he said.