Karat pointed out that alliances were already in place in states such as Bihar and Tamil Nadu. On the contrary, one couldn’t expect the CPI(M) to come together with the TMC in West Bengal and no one could have expected AAP and the Congress to join hands in Delhi.”The real challenge is, post the Lok Sabha elections, will this be only an electoral platform? If it’s only for elections, then election to election. The character of the INDIA bloc for assembly elections is going to be very complex,” he said.”Many constituents of the INDIA bloc cannot work together in assembly elections… So, I think the opposition unity platform should not be linked purely to the electoral field. Thought has to go in because it came together as we were all opposed to the Modi government and the BJP,” he said.Today, the Narendra Modi government still exists or is in its third term and the BJP is there as a ruling party, Karat said. “If the opposition parties are still concerned about the defence of democracy, of secularism, of federalism, there are broad parameters on which the secular opposition parties, I think, can find common ground.””It should be looked at from that basis, then you can think of forward movement,” he added.The CPI(M) leader added that instead of being stifled by conflicts and differing views, the opposition parties should have a “broader perspective”.”If you make it purely electoral and each state assembly (election), I think it will get bogged down into all these conflicts and differing views. So, you should have a broader perspective,” he said.”What are you aiming for? That is an alternative to the Modi government and its policies. So, you have to fashion out this platform. You have to reimagine the INDIA bloc in that way,” he added.
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