Basus Statement Embarrasses Cpm

West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basus reported remarks that the CPI(M) should agree to support a coalition government with the Congress has thrown the Left parties, the CPI(M) in particular, into turmoil. The remark flies in the face of the Left stand that it cannot brook a Congress-led government.

Left leaders sought to clarify Basus statement, saying his statements had been twisted and he has been quoted out of context. Jyoti Basu said that we should work to keep the communal forces at bay and efforts should be made to make the Congress reconsider its decision, a senior Left leader held.

Basus remark is likely to cause embarassment for the Left parties, as they appear to be the most vocal supporters of United Front unity and have ruled out the possibility of supporting any Congress-led coalition.

Basu was reported to have told a Congress leader that the way things are, I may have to suggest to my party to form a government with the Congress figuring in it so that it cannot break any non-BJP coalition governments in the future.

The full politbureau of the CPI(M), which is meeting in the capital today, is likely to discuss the issue. The party had taken strong exception to Basus earlier statement that the CPI(M) had committed a historic blunder by not joining the UF government. His interviews around the new year, in which he took this stand, were interpreted as a statement of ambition, or at least willingness, to lead a coalition government at the Centre.

However, the CPI(M) central committee, which met in February, reiterated that there was no question of reviewing the central committee decision not to join the UF government.

Some Left leaders yesterday appear to have reconciled to the fact that mid-term polls are inevitable. Our stand is quite clear now. We are very much part of the UF and we will remain so under the leadership of HD Deve Gowda. How can we support a Congress government when it alone is responsible for the downfall of our government? We do not want elections at this juncture but if it is forced we are ready for that, another senior Left leader said.