Need to take along Congress to counter TMC: CPI(M)

Defying the party stand, CPI(M) state Secretary Surya Kanta Mishra today said the party's Bengal unit will have to take along Congress in order to fight against the "terror" of TMC.
"In order to fight against the brazen terror attack of TMC, we need to form the biggest possible unity of secular and democratic forces. First we need to strengthen our party CPI(M), then strengthen the Left parties and Left Front, then we need to stitch other secular forces.
"We also need to take Congress along with us in this fight against the terror and establish the rule of democracy in the state," Mishra, who is also the Politburo member, said during a programme here.

Several party workers have been killed in attacks by the ruling party's supporters after the Assembly polls, Mishra claimed.
"Nowhere in India has such a planned and systematic attack taken place to eliminate a political formation and its movement. What is happening in West Bengal is a savage and premeditated attack on democracy, rights of citizens and their right to lead a dignified life," he said.
The CPI(M) central committee had criticised the party's state unit for not adhering to the party line and forging an alliance with the Congress in the state to take on the TMC in the last Assembly elections.

The central committee while discussing the results of the Assembly polls in June had clearly stated, "The electoral tactics adopted in West Bengal was not in consonance with the Central Committee decision not to have an alliance or understanding with the Congress. This should be rectified and the Central Committee stressed the importance of adhering to the political-tactical line adopted at the 21st Congress of the Party."

Mishra also mooted a rectification within the party to weed out "rotten elements" and pave way for infusing fresh blood within the party.
"There are certain elements in the party, who should stay out of the organisation. It is better for the party if they stay out and pave way for new generation within the party," he said.

Mishra also lashed out at the TMC government for spending crores of public money in the name of administrative meetings.