CPI(M) Central Committee meets to discuss LS poll strategy

The CPI-M began its Central Committee meeting here today with its top leadership discussing several crucial issues, including its strategy for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Except Jyoti Basu, all top leaders, including Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and his Kerala counterpart V S Achuthanandan, are attending the meeting being presided over by party General Secretary Prakash Karat.

"We will be discussing mainly the overall political situation in the country, including the party's tactics for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections," Karat had said yesterday. The three-day central committee meeting, he said, would also finalise a document on the demands for restructuring Centre-state relations.

The signing of the 123 Agreement, which the CPI(M) considers "a complete" surrender to the US and "betrayal" of India's vital interests, would also be one of the topics. Yechuri had already stated that the party has been trying to forge an anti-Congress and anti-BJP alliance with an eye on the coming Lok Sabha elections. "Our party is ready to face elections if it is advanced," he said.

On the party's poll preparedness, Selim, the deputy leader of the CPI-M's parliamentary party, said, "We suspect the government will call elections in January or a little later after that. So, we will take stock of the political scenario, both at the national and state level, and discuss preparations.