Date:19/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/19/stories/2005041907500400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

No manipulation for third front: Raghavulu

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The parties aligned with the NDA and the UPA should first leave their alliances and come out with a programmatic understanding to be part of the proposed third front, the CPI (M) Polit Bureau member, B. V. Raghavulu, has said.

At a press conference here on Monday, he said emergence of the third front would depend on the parties supporting the NDA and UPA.

"As and when developments emerge, we will think," he said, adding there would not be any manipulations or interventions on their part.

Asked about the recent statements of the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on the third front, he said they showed "his desperation" and not the thinking of the Left.

`No one untouchable'

On the recent criticism by the TDP on the Ayodhya issue, he said there was no resolution on the official stand of that party. Replying to a question on the TDP, he said nobody was an "untouchable."

The CPI (M) had differed with the TDP also on its economic policies and indicated that it could be part of the front if it changed them.

He said the Left and Democratic Front's programme would form the basis for any programmatic understanding of the third front.

"If others want concessions, we are prepared to discuss and arrive at a consensus," he added.