Left Front will win Kerala, WB polls: Karat

Exuding confidence that Left Front would come back in its bastions, Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Prakash Karat on Monday criticised the United Progressive Alliance-II for following anti-people policy. "In the UPA's first term, the Left exercised all restrains and succeed in checking prices, disinvestment and subjugation by the government to the corporate," said Karat.

All the policies being followed by the UPA-II are in the interests of the rich, particularly the corporate giants are being favoured, said the General Secretary while addressing a rally organised by Sanyukta Jan Sangharsh Morcha consisting of CPI, CPI-M, Janata Dal Secular and Jal, Jungle, Zameen Andolan. Karat also alleged that the government has failed to address the issues related to tribals. "Their rights to their land, water and forest resources have been snatched and are being sold out to the corporate," said Karat.

Earlier addressing a press conference at CPI-M office in Machhla Magra Kachchi Basti, Karat said that capitalist and imperialistic forces have united in West Bengal against the ruling Left Front. But he expressed confidence that "the Left Front will win in Kerala as well as in West Bengal".

Karat took a public auto while going to party office as his vehicle was caught in traffic on Monday.

CPI-M district Secretary Rajesh Singhvi also said that the rally started from town hall in which about five thousand people from different parts of the district participated. A 21-point demand charter was given to the

divisional commissioner demanding the right of poor people in forestland and in urban slums, said Singhvi. All the major demands were conceded to by the administration and a written agreement was given to the leaders, he added.