Bardhan Meets Naveen Over 3rd Front

In a bid to forge a non-Congress, non-BJP alternative ahead of the 2014 elections, CPI leader A B Bardhan met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Navin Nivas here on Sunday.

In a bid to forge a non-Congress, non-BJP alternative ahead of the 2014 elections, CPI leader A B Bardhan met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Navin Nivas here on Sunday.

Talks between the two leaders were preliminary in nature and further talks would be held in January end or February. Describing the the BJD supremo’s response as positive, the veteran CPI leader said he had impressed upon Naveen the need for efforts to form a non-Congress and non-BJP government at the Centre.

Bardhan quoted Naveen as saying that since there was ample time before the elections, detailed discussion on a possible poll alliance between the CPI and the BJD could be held after a month or two. Both the leaders also agreed that there was no-Modi wave and BJP was able to win in the States because of the anger of the people against the Congress.

State Secretary of CPI Dibakar Nayak, who accompanied Bardhan to Navin Nivas, said that talks were held between the two parties with an all-India perspective. There was no State-specific discussion. Nayak said Bardhan maintained at the meeting that the BJD has a key role to play in a non-Congress and non-BJP Government at the Centre.

The Congress is losing base rapidly and the BJP won’t be able to get the numbers, Bardhan said.

Bardhan attended the State council meeting of the CPI here on Sunday. Addressing the meeting, he said the BJD, AIADMK, JD(U) and Samajwadi Party have announced to maintain equi-distance from the Congress and the BJP. He said the CPI has decided to forge electoral alliances with these parties at the State level to strengthen the prospects of non-Cong, non-BJP alternative.

The CPI leader said the BJP won recent elections in the State as there was no credible third alternative before the people. Wherever there was an alternative like the AAP in Delhi, people have accepted it.

Nayak said the CPI will organise meetings in 35 Assembly constituencies, where it has presence in the State, in January.

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