Keeping a window open for State-level electoral adjustments and enough flexibility for dealing with emerging situations, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday adopted the draft Review Report on its Political-Tactical Line (PT-L) that seeks to improve the independent strength of the party and advance the struggle for a ‘Left and democratic front.’
For now, however, it is taking a hardline position on parties like the Congress and all regional parties that it has had some kind of understanding with in the past; maintaining that it is not possible to build a national alternative with any of the State-centric parties and the focus is first on the independent growth of the CPI(M).
Pointing out that the 20th Congress had junked the idea of a third alternative, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Wednesday said that now it has decided not to project a national alliance with any party unless “they have been with us over a period of time on common issues.” He said: “We do not think we can build a national alternative with parties like the Telugu Desam Party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or the Biju Janata Dal.’’
The PT-L review report was adopted at the Party Congress after two days of deliberations that saw the leadership attract criticism for not just the electoral reverses but also the dwindling influence of the Left on the national mindscape.
The review report was put to vote and passed with “near unanimity’’ and 11 fresh amendments besides the 29 amendments that were already factored in before the Congress met.
About the pre-Congress amendments, Mr. Karat said half of them were technical and the other half “strengthens the report; adds to the clarity.”
While 1,432 amendments were moved before the Congress, 229 amendments were moved last night and 11 of them were accepted.
The PT-L review report was put before the Party Congress after an intense debate within the Central Committee wherein Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury had in October last challenged the official report calling for a fresh PT-L.
