We will sit in Opposition, says Left

After facing one of the worst defeats at the hustings, the Left parties today said they were ready to sit in the Opposition in the 15th Lok Sabha and would not support the Congress in government formation.

"Our expectations have not been fulfilled, we admit. The Congress is in a position to form government. Let it form. We will sit in the opposition,' CPI general secretary A B Bardhan told reporters.

Asked whether the Left would support the Congress in government formation, the veteran communist leader shot back "why should they need our support? They don't need our support. We will sit in opposition and fight for the cause of the poor."

He said the Left parties would meet tomorrow to chalk out the future course of action and the four parties would hold meetings of their own to "review our work".

Asked about their Third Front partners like BSP, AIADMK, BJD and TDP, Bardhan said, "We are not abandoning them."

He parried a question on whether the Third Front parties would also join the Left in sitting in the opposition, saying "let us see". The Third Front parties, including the Left, would meeting on Monday to take stock of the post-poll situation.