West Bengal CPM nod to Congress tie-up talks

On the first day of the CPI(M)’s two-day state committee meeting, majority of the members spoke in favour of a tactical tie-up with the Congress for the coming Assembly election in Bengal.

CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra set the ball rolling by presenting a report on the party’s poll strategy wherein he made a passionate but cogent case for an alliance with the Congress. In presence of party general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his predecessor Prakash Karat, Mr Mishra said it was not possible for the Left Front to oust the TMC from power on its own strength. “He said that when there was no problem in the CPI(M)’s joining hands with the Congress to defeat the BJP at the Centre then there should not be any problem in doing so to defeat the TMC in Bengal,” a member said. Thirty-eight members spoke in support and 16 against the alliance.

Sources said CPI(M) leaders of Malda, Murshidabad and Burdwan districts opposed the alliance. It became clear that on the second and concluding day of the state committee meeting, the majority of the members will pitch for a tie-up with the Congress. The final decision, however, will be taken in the central committee and politburo meetings in New Delhi.

Interestingly, when majority of the party leaders were advocating an alliance with the Congress in the party office, posters on the walls opposing the alliance greeted them when they arrived to attend the meeting at Alimuddin Street.