Despite snub, Congress leader AK Antony talks of alliance with Left Front

KOCHI: The CPM might have ruled it out, but a stray comment attributed to Defence Minister AK Antony has triggered speculation that the party could be exploring a post-poll alliance with the Left Front.

Antony, who heads the Congress' committee on election alliances, told reporters at Kottayam at the weekend that there could be areas of cooperation between the Congress and the Left parties, especially on issues of national interest.

This is being interpreted in political circles as a clear overture to the Left Front, which had lent outside support to a Congress-led UPA government between 2004 and 2008 before withdrawing it in July 2008 after the two sides fell out over the Congress' insistence on signing a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

Antony is the second Congress leader from the state to talk of an electoral understanding with the Left in recent weeks.

A couple of weeks ago, another senior leader and overseas Indian affairs minister, Vayalar Ravi, also spoke in a similar vein, saying that he "personally wished" to see Congress and the Left parties coming together.

Ravi, participating in a meet the press programme at Kottayam, said the Left and the Congress could cooperate on many important policy matters and although the Congress has not started talking to any other parties on poll alliances, it would be better if it finds its friends before elections. He said that he "personally wished" to see Congress and the Left parties coming together.

Interestingly, the statements of the two leaders from Kerala come as CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has ruled out supporting a Congress-led government.