The two warring factions of the CPI(M), at the end of the two-day conclave here on Friday, reached consensus over the party’s political line on alliance with the main Opposition party, the Congress.
The line, “No alliance or understanding with the Congress” which was backed by the influential Kerala unit of the party led by former general secretary Prakash Karat and former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, has been amended to read as, “No electoral alliance with the Congress.” The word “understanding” has been omitted.
A question of strategy
According to sources, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury speaking at the Party Congress said there was a difference between political strategy and electoral strategy. Electorally, he said, there was no question of having any alliance with the Congress. At the same time, working with the Congress was essential to defeat the BJP-RSS combine. The consensus averted what could have been an embarrassing secret ballot, which was demanded by 17 of the 47 speakers earlier.
It was expected that a section of the Kerala unit would have voted in favour of the Yechury line had there been a secret ballot.
Earlier in the day opposing a secret ballot, Mr. Karat told reporters, “In our party constitution provision of secret ballot is only for election of central committee.”
He also said that within the party forum individual political opinions can’t be a secret.
“In all political matters we expect that everybody should stand up and be counted. There can be no secret stand,” Mr. Karat added.
The consensus is a victory for Mr. Yechury, who all along had been arguing for keeping the options open.
In his address, he pointed out that he was being painted as pro-Congress, but for the Left to progress, democratic rights need to be preserved which can be done only if the BJP-RSS combine is defeated. Though, the debate ended on Friday it was not without rancour and personal attacks.
It is learnt that Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala, 47-year-old K.K. Ragesh, in a scathing speech at the party’s closed-door meeting said Mr. Yechury was trying to gain a backdoor entry for the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party.
He also alleged that Mr. Yechury was pressing for an alternative draft to overcome his disappointment at not getting a third term in the Rajya Sabha.
There were similar personal attacks on Mr. Karat too. A delegate from Punjab, according to sources, accused Mr. Karat of trying to usurp the powers of the General Secretary by acting as “Super General Secretary.”
