Rediff
New Delhi, Aug 21: Top Left leaders on Thursday held discussions with former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in Delhi on the prevailing political scenario reportedly giving focus on major developments in the country and Bahujan Samaj Party-ruled Uttar Pradesh.
"We discussed the latest political developments in the country," Communist Party of India general secretary A B Bardhan said after the two-hour luncheon meeting at Gowda's residence.
Replying to queries, the Janata Dal-Secular chief merely said he had had a long relationship with the Left parties, which had supported him as the prime minister in the United Front government.
Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat and CPI secretary D Raja were also present at the meeting.
Thursday's meeting came in the wake of political developments in BSP-ruled Uttar Pradesh where Chief Minister Mayawati has already finalised candidates for all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Mayawati's decision on the issue earlier this month assumed significance as Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal had backed BSP during the trust vote in Parliament last month and there were reports that RLD and BSP would jointly contest elections.
Gowda, while refusing to divulge the details of his meeting with the Left leaders, clearly said he was "with the Left parties and there is no ambiguity on this."
On RLD chief Ajit Singh and BSP supremo Mayawati's absence from the meeting and speculation about their association with the Third Front, Gowda refused to comment but added that "currently the final shape of the alliance is not known. There is no Laxman Rekha to it as of now."
He also said that he has been meeting Ajit Singh regularly and may meet him later today also.
Earlier Bardhan, who was also there in the meeting at Gowda's residence, had refused to comment on Ajit Singh's absence from the meeting.
When asked to comment on RLD chief's reported displeasure over Mayawati's announcement of contesting all Lok Sabha seats in UP alone, Bardhan quipped, "He is entitled to his own opinion."
Ajit Singh's office, when contacted before the meeting, had refused to comment on his participation in it.