Lok Sabha polls: Narendra Modi, Manmohan two sides of the same coin, says CPI

NEW DELHI: CPI today asked the people to oust Congress and prevent communal forces from coming to power to pave the way for an alternative political platform, saying "Modi and Manmohan are two sides of the same coin."

Seeking reversal of "anti-people" economic policies and resultant corruption, it said the country was at crossroads as "shameless pursuance of neo-liberal policies" has put it in a crisis that was deepening each day.

Releasing the party's election manifesto, top CPI leaders called for a strong Left block in Parliament to raise issues afflicting the people as both Congress and BJP were in "direct collaboration" to promote those favouring corporate capital and imperialism.

CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said, "The post-poll scenario will be of great political churning that will lead to realignment of political forces."

He said the key issue in both pre- and post-poll scenarios would be "a choice between continued adherence to disastrous course of neo-liberalism and a programme-based alternative that will alter the present disastrous course, usher in development whose fruits are equally distributed among all and to protect and strengthen the country's pluralism and secular fabric."

Asked whether the combination of Left and regional parties' would be open to support or take support of Congress after the polls, communist veteran A B Bardhan said, "What will happen after the elections will be considered then. Before that we have to pull down this corrupt (UPA) government and prevent communalists from coming to power."

But Gurudas Dasgupta said, "There no question of supporting anybody against whom we are firing our guns."

Senior CPI leader D Raja attacked Congress of not fulfilling crucial promises like women's reservation bill and quota for scheduled castes, tribes and OBCs.

"There is a need to redefine the reservation policy and get it implemented in the private sector as the five-year plans focus increasingly on public-private partnership and the private sector," Raja said.