Opposition alliance shaky as CPM keeps Cong guessing

The much-talked about Opposition alliance to take on the BJP appears shaky with the CPM keeping the Congress on tenterhooks after the SP and the BSP dropped enough hints of going it alone in the next elections.

The draft political resolution adopted at the CPM Central Committee meeting in Kolkata on Sunday also ruled out any electoral alliance or understanding with the Congress, virtually putting a question mark on opposition unity ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Congress dismissed questions on opposition unity and the developments in the CPM and insisted that there have been instances of issue-based support in non-BJP opposition parties from time to time.

"It is not necessary for us to respond on internal discussions of a party, particularly when the party in question has not taken a final decision," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters here.

The Congress maintained that it was "premature" to speculate about pre-poll alliances for the Lok Sabha elections next year.

NCP too...  

NCP chief Sharad Pawar too has kept the Congress guessing by rallying various opposition leaders for the 'Save Constitution' march on Republic Day in Mumbai. CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, JD(U) rebel Sharad Yadav and CPI's D Raja have confirmed their participation in the march.

Earlier, SP President Akhilesh Yadav, who had contested the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in alliance with the Congress last year, had talked of a solo venture for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.