Left to increase pressure on UPA

NEW DELHI: Upbeat over its poll successes in West Bengal and Kerala, an aggressive Communist Party of India-Marxists on Thursday said it will increase pressure on the ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition at the Centre, which it supports from outside, to implement policies mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme.
    
"We will have increased pressure and influence on the UPA alliance. Naturally, it is bound to increase after the elections results, but only for the better," Politbureau member Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

 

He said the victory was a result of the faith of the people in the party and in its policies and principles.

 

Accusing the Election Commission for adopting "double standards" in West Bengal by ordering a five-phase poll, Yechury said, "the thumping victory was a befitting reply by the people."

 

"We will definitely take up the matter in Parliament," he said, adding "we cannot allow such a situation. Every other Election Commission feels that it alone can conduct free and fair polls in the country."

 

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Brinda Karat said the poll authorities cannot single out and target a state and then invent rules and regulations without basis, precedent or logic.
    
"The EC should strengthen the democratic process and not weaken it," she said.

 

"This is a victory of the people of West Bengal, who were insulted by the Election Commission," she said, demanding a uniform policy for elections across the country.
    
Karat said the central committee of the party will meet to review the political situation.