"I repeat what I have said. I did not try to denigrate the Prime Minister. I have high respect for him. Unfortunately he is heading a government which is failing to perform," he told reporters in Kolkata.

"He could not control the inflation and the price rise of essential commodities," Bhattacharjee said.

Asked whether the CPI(M) would again support the Congress to form the government if the Left and allies failed to get majority to keep the BJP away, Bhattacherjee said, "It is too early to say. After the parliamentary elections, the party will meet and decide."

"We are supporting the Manmohan Singh government on certain conditions. On the economic front, the government is failing, but Congress is a secular party," he said.

Stating that the Congress was losing election after election and the BJP was taking advantage, he said "our position is clear. We cannot support the BJP-led NDA. We cannot support the Congress. Our goal is to build up a third alternative at the Centre minus Congress and BJP and we are trying for it."