Forward Bloc indicates change in Left-Cong alliance

Days after Congress’ victory in the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan, the Forward Bloc indicated a change in its stand with regard to the prospect of an alliance between the Left Front and Congress.

The Forward Bloc leadership which has so far been one of the most vocal critics of the Left-Congress alliance in West Bengal in the 2016 Assembly election indicated that they will not hesitate to support Congress after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to prevent BJP from returning to power.

The development comes after the conclusion of the party’s 18th Party Congress in Kolkata. The party leadership addressed the media on Monday after the conclusion of the Party Congress on Sunday.

“After the 2019 elections, if we see that BJP on its own cannot come to power, we will do everything necessary to prevent BJP from returning to power,” Forward Bloc national general secretary Debabrata Biswas told DH.

Even as Biswas pointed out that the top priority of the party is to strengthen “the Left Front and the larger Left unity” he said that if any state committee wants to adopt a tactic which is outside the party line adopted at the Party Congress then it will be subject to the approval of the central committee.

“ The 18th All India Forward Bloc party Congress resolves to build up broad-based Left unity and unity of the democratic secular forces...In view of the varying political situation in different states, the party state committees will decide their suitable course of action in respect of electoral alliance, in consultation with the party central committee,” stated the resolution adopted at the 18th Party Congress.

However, Biswas avoided a direct reply when asked whether his party considers Congress as a “ democratic, secular” force.