In keeping with this view, the state CPI (M) unit, which held a meeting at Belapur on Monday, will also hold a state-wide rally on November 17 to protest the state government's failure in controlling price rise, droughts, rise in power rates and moves to introduce a mini-Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

The BJP looks certain to face a rout in the assembly elections in November, opined Yechury. He expressed confidence that it would be difficult for the BJP to continueits reign at the Centre by the end of this year. ``The political situation is certain to see a lot more churning and it would not be in the interest of the people and the country that it should go to polls again,'' he said.

``An alternative secular government should be formed at the Centre within the 12th Lok Sabha in the eventuality of the fall,'' he said, adding that the CPI (M) has decided to give the government, which will inevitably be led by the Congress, issue-based support. ``We shall not join the government but will impart support based on the issues it takes up'', he said.

Listing the various reasons for the BJP losing the confidence of the people, Yechury began with the rise in prices of onions. ``The BJP government has let loose a serial killer on the people's livelihood, with every commodity of essential consumption skyrocketing,'' he said. Yechury squarely laid the blame for the mismanagement of the country's economy at the government's doorstep, and blamed it of being partisan to thetrading class, which was reaping high profits by hoarding. ``By amending the Essential Commodities Act, the government has given a greater reign to the traders,'' he said.He added that though the shortage of agricultural production was not more than 10 per cent, the price rise was around 600-700 per cent. He attacked Prime Minister A B Vajpayee for his share market package, saying it would only help speculators, and not the manufacturers or the common people.

Yechury demanded that the Election Commission examine Vajpayee's announcement of Rs 28,000 crore for roadways as a violation of the code of conduct, since it was a populist move. ``The budgetary provision made for the programme is only Rs 500 crore. How is the rest of the money going to be resourced?'' he asked.

Regarding the recent fiasco at the state education ministers' conference, Yechury said the BJP agenda clearly proved it was a political front for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. ``By invoking only one aspect - the Brahminical aspect - in theagenda, the BJP has shown that it is interested in setting up a system based on Manusmriti, which is an oppressive social order,'' he said.

People had ``seen through the BJP game'', he said, and would be sure to give the government the boot. He denied that the CPI (M) decision to support an alternative government was being ignored by the Congress Party. ``It is not a question of the Congress responding or not. It is a decision of the CPI (M) in the event an alternative government is formed,'' he clarified.