The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Wednesday favoured fresh elections in Jharkhand to bring stable government in the state.

Addressing a news conference in Hyderabad, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat [Images] said the CPI-M did not consider the United Progressive Alliance-backed Madhu Koda government in Jharkhand as a stable one.

He reminded that both the chief minister and the deputy chief minister were independent legislators and the parties, including Congress, were extending their support from outside. "It is better to seek people's fresh mandate to install a stable government in that state," he said. 

Referring to the political equations in Uttar Pradesh [Images], he said that the CPI-M Central Committee had taken stock of UP politics.

The state committee meeting scheduled to be held in October would discuss the matter thoroughly. The central committee would take a decision after the state committee's meeting, he pointed out.

He, however, made it clear that the party would strongly oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in Punjab.

CPI-M would join hand with CPI and other like-minded parties to face the alliance there, he added.

He expressed serious concern over Karnataka government's permission for Shoba Yatra, which was banned earlier.

"Hindu fascist groups are planning to take out a Shoba Yatra in December at Bababudangiri in Chikmagalur, Karnataka. We demand the Karnataka government maintain status quo on the Shoba Yatra," he said.

He welcomed the decision of the Andhra Pradesh government to order a Central Bureau of Investigation probe and a judicial inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Outer Ring Road land acquisition. "Development projects should not turn into a curse for the poor farmers," he quipped.