World | India
Left sore over naming of Yadav for PM's post
The Left Front is unhappy with the fledgling United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) naming Mulayam Singh Yadav as its prime ministerial candidate.
- By Ajay Jha, Chief Correspondent
- Published: 00:53 February 20, 2008
New Delhi: The Left Front is unhappy with the fledgling United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) naming Mulayam Singh Yadav as its prime ministerial candidate.
UNPA had named its chairman Yadav, a former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, as its candidate for the country's top post at a rally held at Yadav's hometown Etawah on Monday.
"This issue should be decided only after the polls," said a miffed Left Front leader M.K. Pandhe.
The UNPA announcement came while the Left was getting closer to the projected Third Front and exploring possibility of deserting the ruling UPA and join hands with the UNPA during the next general elections.
The Left's expression of disapproval over Yadav's nomination is seen as its disappointment with speculations that the Left Front was contemplating pushing one of its own candidates for the top post in case a hung Parliament is elected.
Golden opportunity
Left had lost a golden opportunity in 1996 to have one of its own members become the prime minister as the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) politburo refused permission to the then West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu to take over as the prime minister, making away for installation of H.D. Deve Gowda as the prime minister.
Marxists are already a worried lot with the Congress party circles suggesting that the ruling coalition may advance the next general elections and go in for fresh polls around October-November this year to break the logjam over the Indo-US nuclear deal being opposed by the Left. Next general elections in normal course is due in April-May next year.
The Congress party-led UPA is dependent upon the crucial Left support for its survival. The party, however, is getting around to the view that it is much better to sacrifice the government than buckle under the Left pressure. In such an eventuality, the UPA is confident of increasing its tally substantially in the Lok Sabha.
Soaring ambition
The Left Front worry emanates from reports that if the UPA government goes on the issue of nuclear deal, it may not be able to retain its strength of 56 lawmakers in the Lok Sabha.
Aware of the Left designs about using the UNPA to come to power, UNPA lost no time in pouring water on its soaring ambition by naming Yadav for the top post.
The UNPA announcement came while the Left was getting closer to the projected Third Front and exploring possibility of deserting the ruling UPA and join hands with the UNPA during the next general elections
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