CPI seeks discussion in LF on forming alliance with Congress

The CPI on Sunday sought a discussion in the Left Front on probable electoral ties with the Congress before taking decision on the issue.

The CPI(M) state committee will hold a two-day meeting on February 12 and 13 to discuss the matter. The central committee will sit on February 17 and 18 in Delhi to take a final decision.

Prabodh Panda, state secretary of CPI, on Sunday said: “What Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has said in a meeting was his own opinion. A unanimous decision in the Left Front is required to take such a major decision. Party line cannot be finalised on the basis what he said in a meeting. How the matter can be finalised until it comes to the Left Front.”

The statement of Panda before the meetings has further complicated the position of Left Front in forming an electoral alliance with the Congress.

It may be mentioned that in the extended central committee meeting of CPI(M) held in Vishakhapatnam, the party had categorically said that it would maintain equidistance with the Congress and the BJP. 

What has emerged now that the Left will have to make alliance with a rightist power to oust another rightist party that is ruling the state. 

Another veteran CPI leader said that “if the alliance is inked it will reveal the political emptiness of the Left and in the long run the Left parties will face an uphill task to make people understand about the electoral alliance”.

It may be mentioned that some veteran politburo member of CPI(M) including Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Sarkar have already expressed their displeasure over the matter.

As there are more central committee members from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, political analysts believe that the central committee will not allow this in view of the Assembly elections in Kerala where Left Democratic Front is fighting against the Congress.

The Forward Bloc, another major constituent of the LF, has already given its verdict against the alliance. 

Many CPI(M) leaders believe that the alliance will be detrimental to the interest of the party as it would be described as an opportunist party by the Trinamool Congress.

These leaders refused to buy the opinion that majority of rank and file are in favour of the alliance. 

On the contrary, they consider this alliance to be “the figment of imagination of some leaders who have no contact in the grass root level and who do not understand the ground reality”.

A comrade, who had to stay out of his house in Baranagar from 1970 to 1977 and in his absence Congress workers had beaten up his son, who was studying in school then, just to know where his father was, said, “Can you imagine I will have to vote for Congress just because some leaders want this alliance Congress and CPI-M are arch rival and neither genuine Congress voters will vote for CPI(M) nor vice versa. It will result to ultimate benefit for the Trinamool Congress.”