Bringing Narendra Modi would encourage communalism, capitalism: Prakash Karat

CPI-M politburo member and former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee too echoed the views of Karat on the issue of Third Front and said it was the implementation of alternative policies that mattered for the Left.

"For us an alternative doesn't just mean a new prime minister. For us, an alternative means implementation of pro-people alternative policies. The selection of a prime minister is secondary," he said.

Bhattacharjee also derided Modi's statement made in a BJP rally at the same venue on February 5 that "people of Bengal will enjoy the benefits of having 'didi' in Bengal and Narendra Modi in Delhi".

"The people of Bengal are still in their senses. I am sure they don't want to repent after reaping those benefits. The people of Bengal will never want to have such benefits," he quipped.