Room for manoeuvre

While the CPI(M) is planning to restrict the tenure of the office bearers to a maximum of three terms (nine years), it is also keeping the backdoor open for a handful of leaders. The proposal of restricting the tenures in key posts, adopted at the last Central Committee meeting of the party, says that, in exceptional circumstances, for the interest of the party, an office-bearer can remain in his post even after his nine-year term comes to an end. So, both Prakash Karat and Kerala unit chief Pinarai Vijayan can continue in their posts even after their terms come to an end in 2011.