We can do business with Congress,says Karat

Prakash Karat said he would be open to talking to the ruling Congress party to support the formation of an alternative Third Front government after the general election. This opens up another chance of Left-Congress pact after they split angrily in 2008 over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

CPM chief Prakash Karat said he would be open to talking to the ruling Congress party to support the formation of an alternative Third Front government after the general election.

The statement by Karat signals a shift in India’s political sands,opening up the chance of a Left-Congress pact after they split angrily in 2008 over the civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

The CPM and smaller Left parties were crucial in giving the ruling Congress party-led coalition majority in Parliament from 2004 to 2008,but they blocked many economic reforms such as privatisation.

Story continues below this ad

“We can do business with them and ask them to support an alternative secular formation,it’s possible — why not,I don’t rule it out,” Karat said to a news channel.

The CPM is a major force behind the Third Front of smaller regional parties that aims to challenge Congress and the BJP.

“It’s a big change,especially from someone as hawkish as Karat,” said political analyst Amulya Ganguli. “He’s indicating that the Third Front could be open to the outside support of Congress to form a government.”

Ganguli said there were two possibilities from Karat’s statement. Firstly,a Third Front could do well in the election,and ask for outside support of Congress to gain majority. A similar thing happened in 1996.

Story continues below this ad

“It’s not a question of untouchability. We’ll do business with all parties but that business will be circumscribed by the nature of the mandate,” Karat said.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram