Top leaders of the CPI(M) will hold a crucial meeting here from Friday to discuss the prevailing political situation which has been dominated by major corruption cases like the spectrum scam.
At its three-day meet, the Central Committee is likely to follow up preparations for the Assembly elections in two of its strongholds of West Bengal and Kerala in May next year.
It is also expected to debate the Kashmir situation, the price and unemployment situation and the growing military and strategic links between India and the U.S. which, it feels, do not serve the Indian people’s interests.
On corruption issues relating to the 2G spectrum allocation, Commonwealth Games and Adarsh Housing Society, the party intends to intensify its attack on the UPA-II government. It has also sought clarifications from the Prime Minister about the statements made by former Telecom Minister A Raja on the spectrum issue.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury is already on record saying the statements by Mr Raja, who quit his post on Sunday after intense pressure, have drawn the Prime Minister into the controversy over spectrum allocation and that a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe alone could bring out the truth.
The 87-member Committee is also expected to discuss organisational problems in Kerala and West Bengal and review the action taken to rectify the political and organisational drawbacks in these states ahead of the polls.
A major agenda would be to debate the situation in Kashmir and efforts by the government and the team of interlocutors, including the 8-point initiate, to begin dialogue with all sections of the people.
The CPI(M) has been maintaining that formation of a parliamentary or a political committee was the only way to seriously conduct these talks, saying the experience of interlocutors has not been very fruitful.
Noting that instances of armed attacks have come down drastically in the Valley, the party has said it was necessary to change the overall security strategy including withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from selected areas.
Reports on the ground situation in West Bengal and Kerala would be debated at the meeting. The party experienced a near-rout in the recent local bodies polls in Kerala, as it had in West Bengal earlier.
The CPI(M) is also demanding scrapping of the 1894 Land Acquisition Act and sought that the new bill, which must take care of resettlement and rehabilitation of land owners, should be brought in the ongoing winter session of Parliament.
