CPM 20th party congress in 2012
Kolkata , Feb. 6: Putting to rest all speculation about the 20th party congress, the CPI(M) has decided to hold the congress in 2012 instead of scheduled 2011. The party will instead convene an extended meeting of the central committee in August 2010 to chalk out the political roadmap to meet the current political situation.
“In the wake of the Assembly elections in Bengal and Kerala due in May 2011, we have decided to hold the party congress in 2012. We will convene an extended central committee meeting to adopt a tactical line for the polls,” said CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat. There was a stormy debate in the just concluded CPI(M)’s three-day central committee meeting over the new date for the congress, which was originally scheduled for April 2011. Insiders revealed that Mr Karat and his coterie reasoned that the party congress should be convened before schedule so that it did not coincide with the assembly elections in Bengal and Kerala. But a section of Bengal unit, including Biman Bose and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, with tacit support from politburo member Sitaram Yechury, argued that the congress be deferred till the completion of the Assembly polls. “ Mr Karat’s real intention was to continue his tenure as party general secretary which might not be possible if the congress is held after the state Assembly polls. As per the party constitution, a general secretary can be replaced only at the party congress,” said a party central committee member.He also pointed out that if the party congress was held before the elections, Mr Karat would continue for another three years and there would be no strong point in favour of his replacement. But in case of a post-election congress, things might not be smooth for him.
SUBRATA CHATTOPADHYAY
Post new comment