CPM in fix over truck with Congress in West Bengal
Members including former party general secretary Prakash Karat and those from Kerala unit opposed the idea of continuing the alliance.
New Delhi: The differences within CPM over its West Bengal unit’s decision to continue alliance with Congress in the state, where it faced humiliating defeat in assembly polls recently, became more apparent during the first day of its Central Committee (CC) meeting on Saturday with certain members opposing the idea.
The debate on state unit’s report on its performance during the assembly polls began with party general secretary Sitaram Yechury making opening remarks and West Bengal state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra tabling the unit’s review report on the elections.
Some of the members including former party general secretary Prakash Karat and those from Kerala unit opposed the idea of continuing the alliance, noting it was not in line with the earlier CC decisions and party’s political tactical line, sources said.
The party Politburo had during its May 29 and May 30 meeting officially stated that the tieup was not in consonance with earlier CC decisions and party's political tactical line.
Notwithstanding the Politburo’s stance, the West Bengal unit had on June 11 decided to continue with the alliance.