Infighting dogs CPM, Buddha skips meet
Infighting continues to plague the Bengal Marxists. While the central committee of the CPI(M) met on Friday to discuss election strategy for West Bengal and Kerala, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who is at loggerheads with party general secretary, Prakash Karat skipped the meet. Mr Karat on Friday is learnt to have conceded that the party faces a tough fight in both Left-ruled West Bengal and Kerala which are due for Assembly polls. While the CPI(M) central leadership is keen to hit out at the Congress on the issue of corruption, the Bengal unit wants to limit itself to targeting the main Opposition in the state, Trinamul Congress.
State industry minister Nirupam Sen said that the chief minister could not come as he “is busy with poll preparations”. Party sources also cited the law and order situation in the state as the reason for Mr Bhattacharjee’s inability to attend the meeting.
The Bengal party unit has decided to field one-third fresh faces and 30 per cent women candidates. The list of candidates for Bengal is expected to be announced by April 15. The state committee will meet on Mach 12, 13 following which the Left Front meeting will be held to finalise the list of candidates.
As for Kerala, chief minister Achuthanandan will be contesting the polls. A section of party leaders from the state felt that Mr Achuthanandan “continues to be the face of the party”. The Kerala state committee is expected to place its proposals before the CC on Saturday. In Tamil Nadu, the party is with the AIADMK to ensure the defeat of the DMK-led Front. In Assam, three Left parties — CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML) — plan to forge an alliance. Sources said that there are sharp divisions between the central leasdership as well as the Kerala unit of the CPI(M) in projecting Mr Achuthanandan as the party’s face in the forthcoming polls.
Post new comment