CPI(M) Polit Bureau to evolve strategy for Presidential poll

The central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday authorised its Polit Bureau to work out the strategy for the Presidential election after deliberations with other Left and like-minded secular parties.

The decision came at a two-day meeting of the central committee that ended here on Sunday, sources in the party said.

Left leave it to UPA

The CPI(M) and other Left parties have remained non-committal on their choice of a presidential candidate, saying they would prefer the United Progressive Alliance to come up with a candidate who has the “widest possible acceptance”.

On the issue of its senior party leader from Kerala V.S. Achuthanandan, the central committee decided to send senior central leaders to assess the situation during the State committee meeting scheduled to be held later this month.

The sources said any decision on disciplinary action against Mr. Achuthanandan — as sought by the Kerala leadership for his public comments would be taken in Kerala.

Mr. Achuthanandan and his opponent within the party, Pinarayi Vijayan, both attended the central committee meeting.

Mr. Achuthanandan has been taking a position contrary to the party on the issue of political killings and had demanded a change in the State leadership. He made this demand in a letter to CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat earlier.

Both Mr. Achuthanandan and Mr. Vijayan met Mr. Karat on Friday.

The central committee, the sources said, also ratified the West Bengal committee's decision to expel the former MP, Anil Basu, who is facing corruption allegations, for anti-party activities. He was earlier suspended from the party for three months.