At the end of two-day Polit Bureau meeting that concluded on Thursday, the CPI (M) announced dates for the next party congress which is to be held on 18-22 April next year at Hyderabad, the last one before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Crucial “political-tactical” line of the party is expected to be announced at the end of five-day party congress. This will decide CPI (M)’s position in any pre or post-poll alliance of the Opposition parties. Preliminary discussions on the issue were held on Thursday.
According to at least two Polit Bureau members, no draft resolution was firmed up. The Polit Bureau for now has only finalised timetable leading up to Party Congress. “A draft resolution will be ready only by third week of October when next Central Committee meeting is scheduled,” a PB member told The Hindu. The draft resolution will then be circulated to all party units. Before the Congress, any member or even a Left sympathiser can move an amendment to the draft resolution. It will finally be passed in the Congress.
CPI (M) can not be part of any Opposition alliance, unless the present political line is amended. The party, is amenable to be part of any anti-communal platform, however it can not have an electoral alliance with any other party especially the Congress.
This political stand has often put the party in a tricky position. Qouting this very line, the party stayed away from Rashtriya Janata Dal’s “BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao” rally in Patna.
More importantly, this position was also one of the key reasons to not re-nominate party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury to Rajya Sabha from West Bengal. Congress support was crucial for Mr Yechury’s re-election and would have gone against the party’s stated position.
Rohingya Issue: The CPI (M) on Thursday said Rohingyas should be treated as refugees and those who have crossed over to India should not be pushed back or deported. “Unfortunately, the issue affecting lakhs of people in Myanmar who in the face of widespread attacks in their country have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh and India did not find place in the talks between the Indian Prime Minister and Myanmar leaders,” a Polit Bureau statement said.
NEET: On the issue of NEET examinations PB said that government should consider opinion of people of Tamil Nadu in face of widespread protest.