Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury discuss issues in Parliament

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Thursday met and discussed current issues. They met in the Parliament House premises against the backdrop of talks of an understanding in the crucial West Bengal Assembly polls.

While the AICC is yet to take a formal stand on whether to fight the polls with the Left or the TMC, the state Congress is against the TMC. The Congress has two options — either to go alone or work with the Left without formally announcing the alliance.

While Mr Gandhi has moved closer to the Left and went to the JNU campus, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is treading cautiously as she does not want to antagonise the TMC.

While the Congress’ strategy is to check the BJP from gaining any space in the coming Assembly polls in five states and unite “like-minded” parties, the Left’s priority is to come to power in Kerala and West Bengal. This would make it relevant in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress, DMK, JD(U), RJD, NCP and the Left are moving closer while the Samajwadi Party and the BSP are maintaining equal distance from the BJP led NDA and these parties to ensure their space in Uttar Pradesh.