Karat won’t resign, says ‘don’t write off’ Left yet

May 17, 2011 |

Age Corespondent

New Delhi

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Monday admitted that his party could not win over voters determined on change, but defiantly ruled out resigning over the crushing defeat in West Bengal, where it lost power after 34 years, and the loss in Kerala.

He also denied that West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had offered to resign from the party politburo and central committee. “No one has resigned or offered to resign.
Mr Karat also cautioned that it would be a mistake to “write off” the Left as a political force in West Bengal, where he noted it had got 41 per cent of the vote. “There are some who claim the epitaph had been written for the Left in West Bengal. I am afraid they are mistaken.”
Mr Bhattacharjee did not attend the politburo meeting here Monday which sought to analyse reasons for the defeat. Mr Karat said the CM stayed in Kolkata due to the “grim situation” in West Bengal, with CPI(M) leaders and offices being attacked.
The CPI(M) has, meanwhile, zeroed in on V.S. Achutanandan and Surjya Kanta Mishra as Leaders of the Opposition in Kerala and West Bengal respectively. Formal announcements will be made after the state committees in Kerala and West Bengal discuss the matter.

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