'Indian voter is smarter than politicians'

Communist Party of India-Marxist Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury on Monday reiterated the communist mantra of a non-Bharatiya Janata Party, non-Congress alternative at the Centre.

Campaigning for his party's Kanyakumari candidate Bellarmin on the last day of campaigning, Yechury said: "Having a non-Congress, non-BJP government at the Centre will result in better governance, an independent foreign policy and an effective method to tackle recession and terrorism."

Yechury observed that the country required a foreign policy that would ensure the safety and security of 'Tamil brothers' in Sri Lanka.

Claiming that there had been a swing in favour of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, the CPI-M Polit Bureau member predicted that Jayalalithaa and her allies will win all the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu.

"Tamil Nadu always decides the character of the central government. It did so in 1999 and 2004, and this year we expect the same," he said.

Lamenting about the blatant display of muscle and money power in Tamil Nadu, he hoped that the Election Commission would ensure free and fair elections.

He added, "I have just come from Andhra Pradesh. There, people have taken money from everybody and so nobody knows who they will vote for. The Indian voter is smarter than politicians. He will take the money from all, but vote according to his own conscience."

Asserting that the Third Front had enough experienced and efficient persons for the post of prime minister, Yechury said it was not declaring its Prime Ministerial candidate out of 'respect for the Constitution and the people'.

He reminded the gathering that in 1996, 1998 and 2004, the prime minister was chosen only after the elections and said the Third Front's alternative government would be led only by an experienced man.