“I am not putting any name just now; the issue will be resolved only after the elections,” Prakash Karat said when asked about the chances of Bhattacharjee becoming PM. “As you are saying comrade Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s name... parties will decide together after the election... I am not putting any name just now,” Karat said.

CPM sources said the party is set to put up a candidate from the Left if chances of a Third Front government emerged after the elections .

“Among the Third Front parties, we feel the Left will have the highest number,” said a source. A senior CPM leader added: “Our top leaders have already made it clear that our party will join the government if such a situation arises. We can join a government when we are in a position to dominate its policy-making process.”

On Sunday, Bhattacharjee had skirted a question on whether he would be part of the new Central government. “I don’t know if I will join (the government) but my party will join,” he had said.