Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM central committee has rejected general secretary Sitaram Yechury's tactical line for cooperation with the Congress to fight what he called the communal and fascist agenda of Modi-led BJP government which had the backing of the West Bengal unit. The three-day CC meeting concluded on Sunday also brought to light the rift between Mr Yechury and his predecessor Prakash Karat.
Though the CC approved the politburo outline which firmly opposed any form of a tie-up, the Bengal unit made it clear that the issue had not ended yet and would come up at the party congress. The CC meeting was the last one to be held ahead of the 22nd party Congress in Hyderabad in April. Sources said two separate political draft resolutions were placed before the CC and the one moved by the Karat camp got the approval. Briefing the media later, Mr Yechury said it won by 55 to 31.
The resolution will now go to the party congress as the “political-tactical line” for formal adoption. Mr Yechury favoured an alliance with the Congress while the Mr Karat's resolution proposed a broader coalition of Left parties to take on the BJP. However, both agreed that the primary objective was to defeat the BJP. Mr Yechury wanted the party to work to achieve its goal “without entering into an electoral alliance or front” with ruling class parties. His draft though was favouring an alliance with the Congress did not name the party and avoids the word “understanding.”
The Karat draft, on the other hand, was clear against entering into any understanding or alliance with the principal opposition party and that in states where there are dominant regional parties, it can have an understanding with them even if they are in partnership with the Congress. In states where the Congress and the BJP are locked in a direct battle, the CPM can campaign for the defeat of the BJP in a majority of seats while contesting in a few. Mr Yechury said the members could suggest further amendments and that the final decision would be at the party congress. The voting at the CC was not a victory or defeat of anyone.
"The resolution approved at the CC sees BJP as the main enemy. The final call on the tactics to tackle the BJP would be taken during the elections,” he said. He said the CPM’s main rival in Tripura is the BJP and reminded that the tiny state on poll mode had beaten Kerala in literacy rate under the long party rule. On a question about whether he offered his resignation during the politburo meeting, he said discussions that happened inside the party could not be revealed, and he’s still the party’s general secretary.
