Yechury hits back at Pranab ridicule

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury hit back at Pranab Mukherjee's comments saying it would take a "much shorter" time for Congress to decline to zero.

Hitting back at Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee’s ridicule that the Left would take 250 years to come to power at the Centre,senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday said it would take a “much shorter” time for Congress to decline to zero.

“In two decades,Congress’ strength came down from 405 seats under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi in 1984 to 145 in 2004. It will take a much shorter time for Congress to reach zero,going by this rate,” Yechury said when asked to comment on the issue. Asked about TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao joining the NDA rally in Ludhiana,he said these issues would be discussed only after the election results come out on May 16.

“We will take a decision only after the ground reality becomes clear. After the 16th,all matters will be clear,” Yechury said.

He said the CPI(M) politburo would meet on May 18 to review the political situation and the central committee would later take a decision on all issues.

Asked about West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s statements apparently indicating a soft approach towards Congress,he said everything would be discussed in the politburo meeting.”No decision can be taken on the basis of some statements,” he said.