Left Front claims ruling coalition is plotting to hold polls early

New Delhi: The Left Front has alleged that the ruling coalition is secretly working towards holding early general elections.

The idea, they said, is to catch the opposition on the wrong foot since the polls in normal course get due only in April to May next year.

The Left Front, which withdrew its support to the government last month, however, asserts that they are geared up to face the eventuality of early polls.

According to Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan, government's delaying of the monsoon session of parliament is a sure sign of its desire to bypass parliament and announce some more populist measures.

Monsoon session normally starts in the second half of July and lasts for about two months. Instead, the government called for a special session lasting two days in July to seek trust vote following the Left withdrawal of support and has since been dithering on calling for the regular session.

Indications available suggest that a curtailed monsoon session may be convened towards the middle of next month, which the Left feels may be the last session of Lok Sabha before it is dissolved and fresh polls are called for towards middle of November.

The principal opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is also preparing for the eventuality of early polls, although the Congress party, which heads the ruling Untied Progressive Alliance, has said that the polls would be held only when due.

Third Front

The Left Front, which is now trying to bring together some regional parties to revive the defunct Third Front, has intensified its efforts. Top Left Front leaders held a detailed discussion with the Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday. This will be followed by a meeting of the Untied National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) constituents holding meeting with the Bahujan Samaj Party today to formulate their strategy for a joint campaign during the next general elections.

Bardhan Friday announced formation of a four-member coordination committee of the Left Front-UNPA which is scheduled to meet tomorrow. The committee comprises the Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI secretary D. Raja, Telugu Desam Party parliamentary party leader Yerran Naidu and BSP general secretary Satish Mishra.

UNPA was virtually on the verge of disintegration when Samajwadi Party deserted it to save the government during trust vote when the Left pitched in by roping in the BSP, which rules Uttar Pradesh, as a replacement. But the process received a setback when BSP announced its decision to contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, forcing Rashtriya Lok Dal to look for alliance with either the Congress party or the BJP and disappointing other UNPA constituents.

However, the attempt to get all non-Congress, non-BJP parties on one platform has been revived with the Left and UNPA dangling the carrot of becoming the next prime minister of the country in front of BSP chief Mayawati.