CPM committee discusses tie-up issue with Congress

New Delhi: Intense discussions were held in the Central Committee meeting of the CPI(M) on Saturday where the party tried to thrash out whether the ouster of the BJP government at the Centre — which is the primary political objective in the current scenario — can be done without an electoral understanding with other parties, chiefly the Congress.

The party is split wide open on this issue, with the Bengal faction led by general-secretary Sitaram Yechury favouring such an alliance and the Kerala faction, led by former chief Prakash Karat against it, the party has to finalise a draft outline of a tactical-political resolution before the  Congress in April next year. 

This document, which would be adopted at the party Congress, will form the basis of its strategy for the 2019 general elections.

Sources said that out of a total of 64 speakers who voiced their opinion in the matter, many supported Mr Yechury’s argument of the need for democratic forces to come together. Those in support of the party general secretary included former Kerala chief minister V.S. Achutanandan. 

A few other speakers will speak on Monday and following that there will a politburo meeting to arrive at a consensus. In case the politburo fails to arrive at a consensus then there would be a vote at the Central Committee again.

Late an alternate draft which supports electoral pacts with other parties, might be thrown up open to the floor at the party Congress itself and this might lead to amendments being incorporated in the document. Now, if this happens, then this would definitely be the first time such amendments are adopted at a CPI(M) party Congress.