CPI(M), CPI were keen on government under Sonia Gandhi in 2004: RSP leader TJ Chandrachudan

CPI(M) and CPI were keen on forming the UPA Government led by AICC president Sonia Gandhi after the general elections in 2004 but other Left components RSP and Forward Bloc were opposed to the idea, according to RSP leader TJ Chandrachudan.

Late CPI(M) leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet was the Convener of the Left co-ordination committee and he and CPI leaders proposed the idea of backing Congress-led government led by Sonia Gandhi, Chandrachudan said while briefing reporters after the party's Central Committee meeting here.

Chandrachudan, however, said the opposition of the RSP and Forward Bloc were not about any particular leader heading the government but the Congress's neo liberal policies. He said since then there had been no Left co-ordination committee at the national level but only the leaders of the Left parties used to meet to discuss national issues and come out with joint statements signed by General Secretaries of the four Left parties.

He said the national situation had changed since the last Parliament polls and the unfolding scenario could warrant a working relationship with the Congress and the Left to oppose policies of Narendra Modi Government at the Centre.