We decided to jettison the Government. Because the BJP dictated that you have to follow a certain line if you want our support. To our point that was wrong. There was no inevitability of the fall of the Government. We could have compromised with the BJP and the government would have continued. Many times one has to choose between office and principle and for me it has happened so many times. Therefore it was not because of any underhand games or this or that. It was plain and straight issue-based and we opted out of Government.

There is a difference between seat adjustment and alliance. Seat adjustments are electoral adjustments. After the election BJP said they will extend critical support. It was not qualified support. Never during the election or thereafter they said they will link Ram Janambhoomi to support. They used to say we give moral support to VHP. Then the basic shift came about in the rath yatra. They linked it to support. Not only did they link it to support they went round with the election symbol - symbolising the mixing of religion and politics.

What is this election symbol going around. If you are for Ram, be for Ram. Why are you encashing him and putting him in the ballot box.

(Source: Indian Express, New Delhi, 23 November, 1990)

Left Parties: Joint Statement, 7 November, 1990

It is unfortunate that an unprincipled, if undeclared, alliance of the Congress (I), BJP and a group of defectors from the Janata Dal has brought about the defeat of the V.P. Singh Government. The Central issue in the Lok Sabha debate was the assault on secularism and Constitutional rights by the BJP-VHP combine, utilising the Ayodhya dispute. All those who combined to vote out the V.P. Singh Government on this basic issue will have a grim responsibility to bear before the people. This will have grave and unfortunate repercussions for the country which is facing a serious threat to national unity.

- E.M.S. Namboodripad, CPI(M)

- Tridib Chaudhury, RSP

- Inderjit Gupta, CPI

- Chitta Basu, Forward Bloc