CPI(M) remains open to poll pact with Congress

Electoral understanding with Congress is not a closed chapter for the CPI(M) in the next Lok Sabha elections as party general secretary Sitaram Yechury succeeded in tempering the views of many of this colleagues who batted against having any truck with the grand old party.

After two and a half days of intense discussions where 64 leaders aired their view at the party’s central committee meeting, the discussion remained inconclusive on the line the party needs to adopt in its plan to work with secular, like-minded parties to fight BJP in the next elections.

Though only 31 members spoke in support of an understanding with Congress, some of those who opposed didn’t do it in certain terms, leaving the room open for discussion on the issue, party sources said. While general secretary Yechury favours an understanding among all secular parties, including the Congress, his predecessor Prakash Karat doesn’t support the move. Their differing viewpoints were the focal point of the discussions that concluded here on Monday.

The next central committee meeting in January would discuss the draft political resolution for the party congress.