Speaking on the occasion, the CPI(M) general secretary pointed out that the preceding 13 month rule of the BJP led government saw the national security under threat, unprecedented attacks on minorities and unabated corruption. Surjeet stated that the BJP had surpassed all records of opportunistic politics and wanted to cling on to power at any cost. He mentioned that the BJP had forgotten all its electoral promises, which this party had made in the run up to the previous elections, and just managed to pull on a rag tag coalition. He pointed out that what Kargil had highlighted was that there is a need to reverse the short sighted position taken by Vajpayee government with regard to our security and foreign policy. This government was lulled into complacency by the Lahore Bus trip of Vajpayee, and it failed to detect the large scale intrusion by the Pakistani troops.

Even in its preparation for this election, the BJP is resorting to the worst kind of opportunism, which is clear with its alliance with the Janata Dal (United). Surjeet reminded that the National Front government in 1990 was pulled down by the BJP due to its opposition to the Mandal Commission, and Advani had launched a rath yatra with the slogan of Mandal Vs Kamandal. But now it was aligning with the very same leaders, who were the torch bearers of the Mandal Commission, what sort of an alliance is this ? Questioned the CPI(M) leader.

Responding to repeated queries on the CPI(M) stand towards the Congress, Surjeet described as baseless any report about an alliance with the Congress. He pointed out that the CPI(M) would support Left, democratic and secular candidates, and where such candidates were not there the Party would support democratic and secular candidates, who were in a position to defeat the BJP.

The CPI(M) manifesto charges the 13 month rule of the BJP as an unmitigated disaster for the country which saw - an aggravated strain on the national unity, instilled fear and insecurity amongst the minorities, gave a bonanza to the foreign capital and big business and promoted the large scale penetration of the administration by the RSS. It further reminds the voters about the back breaking price-rise last year, and the onion price rise scandal and the Dropsy deaths in Delhi under the BJP government.

Referring to the forgotten commitments of the BJP, the Party manifesto points out that the BJP had no time for fulfilling its elementary pledges such as - 8-9 per cent annual rate of growth of GDP, promise of providing one crore jobs a year, 20 lakh additional housing units per year, 33 per cent reservation for women, Lok Pal Bill and the National Judicial Commission.

The CPI(M) manifesto rejects the contention that the choice for the people should be reduced to a BJP-led combination or a Congress alternative. Therefore it stresses on the strengthening of the Left forces in the coming elections, which could be done with the increased strength of these forces in the new parliament.

The CPI(M) manifesto has reiterated the Party position on national issues and has promised to reverse the harmful foreign policy positions of the Vajpayee government. It has stressed on the need of an independent foreign policy, which opposes US hegemony and instead favours non-alignment. The Party aims to halt nuclear weaponisation, and reiterates its opposition to the signing of the CTBT.