File photo of CPI leader AB Bardhan.
An alliance between
Mamata Banerjee and the Left may be unthinkable, but the CPI says - anything to keep
Narendra Modi out.
CPI leader AB Bardhan said on Monday that he is not averse to partnering with the Chief Minister and her Trinamool Congress for political expediency.
"The whole idea will be to keep Modi out if it is possible. I don't give the BJP more than 165-170 seats and with all they can't go beyond 210, therefore BJP has to be kept out. And for that all options including Mamata will be discussed," Mr Bardhan told a private news channel. (
India Votes 2014: Full Coverage)
Mamata Banerjee's aversion to the Left is legendary. After defeating the Left Front government in 2011, she has relentlessly blamed the Left for leaving Bengal struggling with poor infrastructure and massive debts.
As he suggested a tie-up with a bitter rival, Mr Bardhan said, "Why should Mamata become a central figure in the alliance? There are so many people whose policies are so different and they are anti-BJP and anti-Congress."
Mr Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, is widely predicted to lead his party to one of its biggest victories in the national election.
Though attempts at forging a coalition of non-Congress, non-BJP parties have not taken off, Left leaders have held out the possibility of post-poll tie-ups. CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat talked about a "repeat of the 1996-like situation" and the Congress supporting a government of secular parties to keep the BJP out of power.
Congress vice president
Rahul Gandhi, however, has ruled out supporting a Third Front. (
Won't support Third Front, says Rahul Gandhi)