Karat’s write-up highlights dissent in CPI(M) ranks

At a time when the CPI(M) and Congress leaders are trying to come close over the PAC issue, an article by Prakash Karat in the current issue of People’s Democracy criticising those who are trying to “ convert the party into a party of social democrats” has once again hit the pro-Congress brigade in the party.

Karat has been in the editorial board of People’s Democracy the academic face of the party and a write up on the issue indicates that under no circumstances the Central Committee and Politburo are going to accept the logic put forward by Surya Kanta Mishra and his group to have alliance with Congress. The Central Committee had already stated that “the alliance was not in consonance with the party’s Central Committee decision.” It had instructed the Politburo to meet the state committee leaders and “rectify the tactical error” the West Bengal unit had made. Most of the state committee members had criticised the PB in presence of Karat in its meeting held in Alimuddin Street earlier this month. Misra refused to accept that the party had done anything wrong to make alliance with Congress.

Political analysts said that it was quite clear that the Central Committee would not spare the state unit and a conflict was inevitable. The Central Committee has also refused to accept the logic that to stop BJP in West Bengal, a tie-up with the Congress was needed. Many CPI(M) leaders believe that because of alliance, the party did badly in the Assembly polls and could bag only 26 seats, the lowest since 1972. They said the pro-alliance leaders had failed to make people understand the necessity of the tie-up and in many cases Congress voters did not vote for CPI(M) candidates.

Meanwhile, Congress and CPI(M) discussed with former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee about the steps they should take against party MLAs who have joined Trinamool. Congress MLA Tushar Kanti Bhattacharya and CPI(M) MLA Dipali Biswas joined TMC on July 21. Abdul Mannan and Sujan Chakraborty on Tuesday met Chatterjee and discussed the issue.