The two Left parties, the RSP and the Forward Bloc, first raised the banner of revolt when they failed to toe the line set by the two dominant Left parties, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and CPI, on the issue of extending support to the Congress when it attempted to form a government at the Centre earlier this year. Now, with the CPI (M) and CPI having jettisoned their policy of maintaining "equidistance" from the Congress and the BJP, the RSP has set an independent course of action. "The RSP has taken a definite stand to remain equidistant" from the BJP and Congress said party general secretary K Pankajakshan.

The RSP's central committee, which met here to review the political situation in the run-up to the general elections has urged the CPI (M) to take the lead in forginga Third Front, bringing together all the progressive and secular forces in the country. The RSP's decision to equally oppose the two "bourgeois" parties comes at a time when the two dominant left parties, CPI(M) and CPI have shunned this formula in order to fight the BJP.

Alarmed by the inroads made by the BJP, the CPI(M) decided that equidistance was no longer relevant if secular forces had to be galvanised to fight the BJP. As the elections approach, the CPI (M) leadership appears ready to forge an electoral arrangement with the Congress to ensure the defeat of the BJP and its allies.

Insisting there is not much difference between the Congress and the BJP, the RSP maintains that the policies pursued by both parties are essentially "anti-people" in nature. The only difference is that the BJP is set on the path of "religio-fascism", said Pankajakshan. In this respect, the RSP leadership believes that the Congress is no better since it takes a pro-communal stance whenever it suits its political ends. TheRSP is still to take a position with regard to the newly-launched Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Though the RSP has welcomed the step taken by Sharad Pawar and others to break away from the Congress, the party will reserve its stand till the NCP comes out with its political and economic policies.

Here again, the RSP's position differs from that of the CPI (M), which has decided to throw its weight behind the Congress to prevent the division of anti-saffron votes. But while the RSP has chosen its own position with regard to the Congress and the BJP, its fate in the forthcoming polls is firmly tied to that of the Left parties. In the three Left-ruled states, Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura, RSP candidates are completely dependent on the CPI (M) for their electoral survival. And the CPI (M) has made it clear that it is not going to take kindly the intransigence displayed by the RSP. One of those against whom the axe is likely to fall is RSP Member of Parliament Abani Roy, whose Rajya Sabha term comes toan end in a few months' time.