CPI(M) welcomes steps to revive erstwhile Janata Parivar

Patna: Welcoming the move of six political parties of the 'Janata Parivar' (family) to come together to take on the Central government, CPI(M) Friday said it would closely study its principles and policies before giving a thought to join such a coalition at the national level.

"We welcome the move by the constituents of erstwhile Janata Parivar to come together on one platform to take on a resurgent BJP....We'll, however, await formulation of policies and principles on which these parties shape up a coalition at the national level before giving a thought to join it," CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

"Let these parties first work on its principles and policies which are not clear as yet," he said when asked whether CPI(M) and other left parties would consider joining the proposed coalition.

Yechury, however, cautioned non-Congress and non-BJP regional parties against mooting an alternative platform at the national level without taking the left parties on board and said that without taking the left parties along no viable alternative political space could be worked out.

He said left parties still had significant presence in the country, without which no alternative political space could be formed at the national level.

Yechury said that the left parties and specifically CPI (M) were themselves dwelling on move to strengthen left unity in the country and broadbase the mass support.

The CPI(M) leadership was seized with rapid erosion of its support base and discussions were underway at the central committee level to find out ways to revive the party's mass base, he said. At the broader level the left parties were also engaged in similar exercise.

Exuding confidence that the non-Congress and non-BJP political space would buzz again in future, the CPI(M) leader expressed satisfaction with the vigorous move of the socialist and communist parties to find its mooring in the national polity.