Amidst talks about an ideological revisit in the CPI(M), a similar exercise is being under process in the Communist Party of India (CPI). Talking to this newspaper, CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said that a draft has already been prepared
at the leadership level to update the party programme and it will be placed at the party congress scheduled to be held in Patna on March 27.
Mr Bardhan also added that this was merely an internal exercise in his party and had “nothing to do with” what was happening in the CPI(M) in this connection.
Mr Bardhan attributed the decision to change the party programme after a gap of nearly two decades to the new developments that has occurred in the country’s economy and society during this period.
On the situation that led to such a decision, Mr Bardhan said, “CPI is trying to analyse the development that has taken place during the last two-three decades consequent to the neo-liberal policies and so-called social reforms that the bourgeois government is implementing. These had a profound impact on the economy of the country, on agriculture and on several other aspects of social and economic life.”
“It has also brought about changes in the composition of classes in present day society. New sections have come up. The co-relation of social forces has also undergone change,” he explained further. Mr Bardhan said the party has to work out new strategy and tactics in the changed situation for completing democratic revolution and the transition to socialism. However, he denied to elaborate on what will be the new tactics or how will it be implemented, sending a message that such things will get clarity only when the party puts out the new draft.