CPI veteran A B Bardhan has again described BSP supremo Mayawati as a "prominent" candidate for the post of the prime minister and expressed confidence that she would "never" join hands with the BJP.
While maintaining that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister was "certainly a prominent candidate" for the top post, Bardhan, however, said the prime minister would have to be chosen by consensus by the Third Front if it comes to power.
"Once bitten, twice shy. Mayawati will never join hands with the BJP again," ardhan told NDTV.
Indicating the possibility of political realignments, he said the Left parties were in touch with several constituents of the Congress-led UPA, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan.
Paswan was a "good friend" with whom "I am so regularly in touch that just yesterday, he sent me four kinds of fish," the news channel quoted Bardhan as saying in a release.
According to the release, the CPI general secretary described Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as "a good politician" but added that "he was still on the other side".
Asked if the Left would consider supporting a Congress- led government to keep NDA out after elections, Bardhan said, "The need for this will not arise. Currently, the Third Front is at number one position, with Congress at number two and BJP far behind."
