Alliance issue will be discussed after plenum: Yechury

Amidst speculation of a possible understanding with Congress for West Bengal Assembly polls next year, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury today said the matter will be discussed after the Kolkata plenum but added that the party was open to alliance with other democratic forces.
The party's plenum, which is being held after 37 years, will commence tomorrow and conclude on December 31.
The state committee of CPI(M) has the jurisdiction to decide on the basis of the situation in the state. But it has to be ratified by the central committee, Yechury said on the issue of possible tie-ups.
"This is a very important battle for us in Bengal, which will decide not only the state's future but also restoration of democracy, law and order and rule of law," he told a press conference.

"This is something we think is extremely crucial for the health of parliamentary democracy in India. The preparations have begun to face and overcome such challenges," he added.
Asked whether CPI(M) is prepared to meet challenges in West Bengal, Yechury said, "Every patriotic, well-minded, secular Indian according to us should be meeting these challenges. Now if you are talking in terms of electoral politics, this issue will be discussed after the plenum.

"But if there are other forces willing to come forward and do the same thing, then we welcome it. The point is to meet and overcome the challenges."

The CPI(M) leader said both TMC and BJP are "made for each other" in politics and alleged that a "match fixing" is on between them on the issue of CBI inquiry into Saradha scam.
"TMC needs the help of BJP to save themselves from Saradha scam and BJP needs TMC to pass bills in Parliament," he said.
Yechury said communal onslaught was the biggest
challenge for the country.
"This rabid communalism merges with the neo-liberal reforms. The Modi governmnet is carrying forward the neo-liberal economic reforms more aggressively than the earlier Manmohan Singh government," he alleged
"It is at the same time patronising the communal forces, which is spreading religious intolerance and rewriting history to influence the syllabus and teachings in education institutions and promoting an unscientific temple. This is a big challenge this has to be met organisationally and politically as well," the CPI-M general secretary said.

However, without the participation of youth neither the country nor CPI-M have a future, he said.
"Attracting youth is an important issue that will be discussed in the plenum. But age also has to merge with experience. India is a country of youth. Without youth nobody has a future. CPI(M) does not have a future."
On Bengal, Yechury alleged that CPI(M) is the principal target of attacks by the TMC government and said withstanding them is a very important task for the party.
"In Bengal we face challenges of violence, intimidation, attacks against our comrades and we are fighting it. But how we galvanise our workers and be organisationally stronger is important. The process has started and I think we will be able to meet those challenges and overcome them," he added.