CPI(M) calls state committee meet to decide on alliance

CPI(M) will hold a two-day state committee meet from February 12 to take a final call on the issue of alliance with Congress for the coming assembly polls in West Bengal, a senior CPI(M) leader said today.
"The party has called the state committee meet on February 12-13. It is likely that a final call on alliance will be taken in this meeting," the leader, who is a CPI(M) state committee member, said.
Former CPI(M) general secretary and Politburo member Prakash Karat told a TV news channel during the day, "Let concrete proposals (on alliance) come from the state committee. The final decision will be taken by the central committee,".

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury had in December said it was for the state party unit to decide on the alliance but the final call would be taken by the central committee.
CPI(M) central committee meet is scheduled to be held on February 17 and 18.
The issue of alliance between Congress and CPI(M) gained momentum in the last two months after several senior CPI(M) leaders sent feelers to Congress for forging a tie-up to oust ruling Trinamool Congress from Bengal.
Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra during public meetings had called upon Congress to join hands with the Left Front.

Congress leaders from West Bengal yesterday unanimously rejected any alliance with TMC but remained divided on a tie-up with the Left when party Vice-president Rahul Gandhi held consultations with them.