Differences in the beleaguered Marxist outfit CPI(M) have surfaced again over the inclusion of the party’s central committee member Subhashini Ali in the party’s top policy-making body, the politburo.
While party general secretary Prakash Karat and his wife Brinda Karat, also a politburo member, want Ms Ali to be inducted in the body, a section of the Bengal unit of the party and top CPI(M) leaders oppose the move on the ground that it will have no ‘’political’’ relevance.
Of the 15-member politburo, at least three posts are expected to be filled up. Two lie vacant following the demise of M.K. Pandhe and removal of former Kerala chief minister V.S, Achuthanandan from the politburo in 2009. Politburo member Mohammed Amin may also leave his post for health reasons, party sources said.
While A.K. Padmanabhan’s induction is more or less decided, three names have emerged from Bengal, which include Tapan Sen, Suryakanta Mishra and Shyamal Chakraborty. Achuthanandan’s supporters are pushing for his re-induction. With the names of the veteran CPI(M) leaders taking round, eyebrows were being raised at the “red couple’s” (Prakash-Brinda) move to “get in their friend”, a senior party leader lashed out.