CPM politburo flays Bengal CPM's election tactics

THIRUVANANTHPAURAM: The CPM politburo on Monday said the tactics adopted by the West Bengal state committee for the Assembly polls were against the central committee decision and the political tactical line adopted  at the Visakhapatnam party congress.

At a press conference after the politburo meeting in New Delhi,  CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “the politburo is of the opinion that the tactics that evolved in Bengal are not in consonance with the CC decision and the political tactical line adopted at the Visakhapatnam congress which stated that there will be no alliance or electoral understanding with the Congress.”

However, he said the politburo had only conducted a preliminary review of the polls that took place in five states. “The politburo conducted a preliminary review of the election results in five states that went to polls. The state committees are meeting in the next two weeks for a detailed review. The central committee will make a comprehensive review at its meeting scheduled for June 19 and 20,” Yechury said.

The politburo took a serious view of the widespread violence unleashed in West Bengal where all political parties are being attacked and made a target by Trinamoool Congress.

The attacks are being carried out in those wards and constituencies where people have not voted for the TMC. “Many comrades have died, over 600 offices were ransacked or destroyed,”said  Yechury. He said individuals were being targeted with two options; either disown political affiliation or join the TMC. Fines were  being extorted for not voting for the TMC.

The politburo expressed concern over the sharp communal polarisation in Uttar Pradesh with an eye on the  Assembly polls in 2017. The Bajrang Dal has been organising armed training camps as part of the old methodology of RSS-BJP to trigger communal polarisation in poll-bound states and reap electoral benefits, Yechury said and urged the UP state government and centre to take strict action.

The PB expressed serious concern over the racist attacks on African nationals in many parts of the country. “It is continuing despite all sorts of assurances. Already a death has occurred in the national capital. This has now become a diplomatic issue between the African countries and Indian government. The centre must immediately intervene to check such incidents which are adversely affecting the country’s image internationally. It will become worse if strong action is not taken,” he said.