CPI (M) (Communist Party of India - Marxist) Party congress has concluded in Coimbatore. Prakash Karatt, the energetic leader was elected as general secretary again. Party congress called upon similar parties to join hands for a third alternative. Main enemy is declared as BJP and Congress.  

To keep the Congress and BJP away from power is one of the main agendas declared by CPM. Forming a third alternative political alliance is the main plan of CPM. This means party imagines an alternative front rather than NDA and UPA. Party points out Kerala, Bengal, and Tripura as the model for a successful third front. But many political think tanks rule out this idea as mere utopian. 

The setup of state political alliance is entirely different from national level formation of a front. The economic policy and the local socio-political issues have contributed to alliance politics in states. To have a national level alternative is not as simple as CPM states. Party has clarified that they would have no alliance or front formation with Congress. CPM aims at a political joint venture with equal minded partners having left ideology. It is when Harkishan Singh Surjeet had been party general secretary, the concept of third front became a reality, though it had a short life. 

But political environment in India has altered a lot since. Division among parties on local issues became a challenge to work together on a common agenda. CPM is well aware of the political situation while commenting on a third alternative. Party prefers broad and long lasting alliances that stand far beyond an election focused alliance. 

CPI (Communist Party of India) had summoned for Communist re-union and third front in its recently concluded party Congress in Hyderabad. But CPM ruled out the idea of Communist Unity. If CPM wants to make a strong front beyond the temporary election venture, why is it turning their backs to Communist unity?

In the present condition, alliance politics can not do anything more than being a strong supporting force either outside or as a part of government. 

CPMs dream of a long term alliance is meant to have a broad political vision. It would be successful if the local alliance based on caste and religion and other factors weakened. There are many such small parties and alliances in northern part of India. In this condition, CPMs agenda of keeping away BJP or Congress from power, never help their "dream "alliance. Instead small parties come to power with narrow political objective based on caste, language and locality. 

CPM has two options: either emerge as a left front for long term, made for governmental setup or make alliance with all small parties and join hands with them for electoral gain. The party congress policy is being viewed with skepticism by political observers. Party still has a hidden agenda for arranging an electoral arrangement with small parties, many think. 

Congress on the other hand is trying its best to avoid other fronts come into power. Congress is attacking Mayavathi’s Samajvadi Party of Uttarpradesh and makes a good relation with Mulayam Singh Yadav. In the coming elections there may be unexpected ties and alliances. Congress and BJP will focus to emerge as a party to have single majority, even if it is very strenuous.
 

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