Third Front will be a major force: CPM

The Third Front will be a major force in the next Lok Sabha polls, says Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Niloptal Basu.

The CPM leader was talking after the Biju Janata Dal snapped its ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party and is all set to join the Third Front.

Speaking to rediff.com, he said, "Patnaik has been unhappy with the BJP ever since the Kandhamal riots broke out. The BJD has found out that there was greater acceptability if his party went to contest elections on its own."

Talking about the post-poll scenario, he said all options are still open.

Basu said the UPA government, led by Dr Manmohan Singh, failed to protect the common man from global recession.

"Of course we need to change the foreign policy of the country, but what is important is change in our economic policy."

"The government has given money to big industrial houses and offered tax benefits. Now these benefits do not reach the main beneficiaries. Tax wavers do not help in reviving the economy. You should find means to revive the economy," he said.

According to Basu, both the BJP and the Congress are losing vote share and it has been coming down since 1990.