Eleven non-Congress and non-BJP parties have upped their ante against Congress and BJP. Addressing a press conference after the hour-long meeting in New Delhi today, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said the parties will work together to defeat Congress-led UPA and prevent BJP from coming to power.

He said the 11 parties will present an alternative to UPA and BJP and appealed to other secular parties to join them in their endeavour.

Mr. Karat said BJP's policies are similar to those of Congress. Moreover, BJP represents communal politics which is dangerous for the country.

Regarding the expansion of the grouping, Mulayam Singh Yadav said the third alternative grouping could expand in future.

AIR correspondent reports, apart from the four Left parties, the others in the combination are JD(U), BJD, AIADMK, JD(S), Samajwadi Party, Asom Gana Parishad and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik).

JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, CPI leader A B Bardhan, CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury attended the meeting.