BJP not credible alternative to Cong: CPI(M) on poll outcome

CPI(M) says failure of Cong can be attributed to people's discontent against price rise,corruption.

The CPI(M) on Wednesday said the Congress had suffered a setback in the recent Assembly election and the BJP was not seen as a credible alternative to that party.

The CPI(M) had also performed poorly in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab,the party politburo said,adding that this underlined the need to strengthen its mass activities and organisations in these states.

Terming the victory of Samajwadi Party in UP as remarkable,it said the verdict was not only against the Mayawati government,but the people had rejected the BJP and the Congress too.

Story continues below this ad

It said a part of the failure of the Congress can be attributed to the people’s discontent against price rise and corruption for which they hold the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre responsible.

The BJP in particular has failed to make any headway…The results also show that the BJP is not seen as a credible alternative to the Congress, it said,adding that while the BJP’s seats have been reduced in Punjab,it lost in Uttarakhand and did not perform well in UP.

Observing that the overall results in five states constitute a setback for the Congress,the CPI(M) said while it lost in Goa and Punjab,it fared badly in UP and just managed to be ahead by one seat in Uttarakhand wherein too it should have gained from the anti-incumbency factor.

While the sole exception for the Congress was the outright victory in Manipur,the CPI(M) said this has no wider significance given the abnormal and specific conditions prevailing there.