AAP can replace bourgeois parties, not Left: Karat

Kochi, Jan 11 :

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) is a substitute for bourgeois parties, not the Left, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said Saturday.

He said it was still too early to say anything on the AAP, which formed a minority government in Delhi Dec 28.

“AAP has done well in Delhi and is a significant force, but I am not sure of other states,” Karat told the media here.

“They are a substitute for bourgeois parties, not the Left.

“A good thing is that they have drawn support from the middle class. But we are waiting to hear from them (about) their programmes and policies.”

Karat admitted that the AAP has drawn support not only from Left supporters but also from those whose political leanings are to the right or the centre.

Asked if the Left would ally with the AAP, Karat said it seemed like they were not interested in having an alliance and were presently concerned with establishing themselves.

“We are interested to know about their approach to neo-liberal policies and communalism,” Karat said.

Karat admitted that the Communist Party of India-Marxist had not done well in the metro cities.

“We have problems with the present generation of the middle class, and hence the CPI-M and the Left have started to re-orient themselves,” Karat said.

Left hopes for an alliance of non-Congress secular parties 

A policy of broader cooperation, coupled with loose coordination, to cobble up an alliance of non-Congress secular parties ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls is what the Left hopes for, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said here Saturday.

Karat spelt out the strategy of his Communist Party of India-Marxist, as well as of the Left, at this Kerala city Saturday while addressing reporters.

“The Congress and its allies are incapable of containing Narendra Modi and the BJP. This can be done only by a non-Congress secular combination of forces and on Oct 30 last year, 14 political parties came together on a platform in Delhi. In three weeks, a broad framework will be ready,” Karat said.

He pointed out that in 1989, with V.P.Singh at the helm, and in 1996, when H.D. Deva Gowda became prime minister, the alliance was formed after the elections.

“What we are trying this time is that in three weeks, an electoral alliance will be formed. We are working on broader cooperation and loose coordination, so that after the elections, we will be able to come together quickly to keep the BJP out. The Congress is fighting for its survival, and is in no position to form a government,” Karat said.

(IANS)