CPI calls for alliance to thwart 'sinister march' of Congress, BJP

NEW DELHI: CPI has favoured an alliance of Left with like minded parties and asked them not to wait for any "formal alliance or seat adjustments" to thwart the "sinister march" of Congress and BJP to the Centre.

Speaking at a function to release a book on life of former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir late G M Shah, 'Hayaat-u-Khidmaat (Life and Service)', CPI National Secretary A B Bardhan asked like minded parties not to wait for any formal alliance or seat adjustments and join forces with Left parties to thwart the "sinister march" of the Congress and the BJP towards power at the Centre.

"He called on the JK Awami National Party (ANC) to join hands with the Left and other like-minded parties to defeat the 'divisive and communal forces' which are doing their utmost to grab power in the forthcoming general elections," he said after releasing the book.

ANC, which came into existence after Shah, the estranged brother-in-law of Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, broke away from National Conference and formed a party with the help of Congress.

However, ANC has not been able to make any dent in the political scene in the state. Shah died in January 2009 at the age of 88.

His wife, Khalida Shah, said ANC was ready to give its whole-hearted support to the Left and all those parties at the national level which can bring about an improvement in the life of an ordinary Kashmiri and are ready to take steps to bring the state within the national mainstream.