A coalition of opposition parties has been formed in Rajasthan to contest the upcoming assembly elections and the Lok Sabha polls on a united front. However, this opposing coalition, which is a Left-led initiative, does not include the Congress.
The opposition front consists of seven parties—CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), Samajwadi Party, JD(S), RLD and Marxist Communist Party of India (MCPI). The 'Rajasthan Democratic Front' (as the coalition is called) was formed after the Congress did not show any willingness to be a part of any coalition in the state.
The opposition grouping is, however, wooing BSP, which is currently involved in discussions with the Congress to work out a seat-sharing arrangement for the coming round of assembly elections. While the BSP is keen on entering into an electoral understanding with the Congress in Rajasthan, the state unit of the Grand Old Party is opposed to the idea as it feels it does not need to get into any alliance to oust the current Vasundhara Raje government in the state.
The combined front held a convention in Jaipur on September 8, which was inaugurated by former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda. The parties have also begun an exercise to identify seats where they will field candidates.
“The Congress and the BSP have been invited to join the front to defeat the BJP in both the state and the Centre,” said Narendra Acharya, state secretary of the CPI.
The CPI is learnt to have shortlisted 42 seats which it would want to contest in the assembly polls; the CPI(M) is interested in 35 constituencies.
Meanwhile, the parties are planning a similar joint initiative in Madhya Pradesh, and will hold a state-level convention in Bhopal soon.
