Yechury rules out grand alliance before ’ 19 polls

It is not just Opp. leaders talking about an alliance. It is the demand of their followers and the masses who want this anti- people govt to go... — Sitaram Yechury, CPM leader

Kolkata, July 12: CPI( M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday ruled out the possibility of formation of a grand Opposition alliance at the national level before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Mr Yechury said that such a formation can only be made after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are announced.

“It is my feeling that in India it is not possible for any grand alliance ( Mahagathbandhan) to be formed before the elections. Because we are country of diversity,” he told a press conference here.

“This time also you will see the same thing as had happened in 1996 when United Front government was formed and in 2004 when the UPA- 1 government was installed,” he said.

Mr Yechury said the people of the country want to get rid of the “anti- people government” at the Centre but an “alternative secular democratic government” can be formed after the Lok Sabha poll.

The CPI( M) politburo member said the regional secular forces too will come together after the general election and added that he will not spell out the name of the alternative secular formation.

“It is not just Opposition leaders talking about an alliance. It is the demand of their followers and the masses who want this anti- people government to go and that is forcing parties to come together”, he said.

When asked whether CPI( M) would be part of the alternative secular front, he said “Our party had provided outside support to the Central government. We have done that before in 1989, 1996 and 2004”.

On whether CPI( M) would be a part of an opposition front if Trinamul Congress is included in it, he said, “The TMC and BJP have a covert understanding and the TMC doesn’t have the credibility to fight the BJP”.