CPI(M) bickers over alliance with Cong in WB

The differences within CPI(M) over its West Bengal unit's decision to continue alliance with Congress in the state, where it faced humiliating defeat in assembly polls recently, became more apparent during the first day of its Central Committee (CC) meeting today with certain members opposing the idea.
The debate on state unit's report on its performance during the assembly polls began with party general secretary Sitaram Yechury making opening remarks and West Bengal state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra tabling the unit's review report on the elections.
Some of the members including former party general secretary Prakash Karat and those from Kerala unit opposed the idea of continuing the alliance, noting it was not in line with the earlier CC decisions and party's political tactical line, sources said.

The party Politburo had during its May 29 and May 30 meeting officially stated that the tie-up was not in consonance with earlier CC decisions and party's political tactical line.
Notwithstanding the Politburo's stance, the West Bengal unit had on June 11 decided to continue with the alliance. Yechury, who had attended the state committee meeting along with Karat and Politburo member MA Baby, too had then hinted at his support for continuation of the alliance for fighting the alleged onslaught by ruling TMC there.
"Some members from Kerala unit and other southern state units like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are against the idea. The West Bengal leaders though, as they had during its state meeting, pitched for a united opposition in the state to tackle TMC aggression. After Mishra presented the report, Karat raised issues regarding the alliance, which were later countered by party's Bengal leader Biman Basu," the source said.

During the Politburo meeting held yesterday, the West Bengal leaders had pointed towards party's poor show in assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, which went to polls simultaneously, to drive point that the CPI(M) could not do well there despite sticking to its political tactical line, they added.