Other parties to decide whether they want to join hands with

Keeping open its options to form alliance with like-minded parties for the forthcoming West Bengal assembly polls, CPI(M) today said it was for "other parties to decide" whether they want to join hands with it and stated that removing TMC was its target to "save the state".
"In West Bengal, our intention is to remove TMC, save West Bengal. Remove Modi government, save the country. These are our two slogans and we are moving on, following this line. Who comes or does not come with us, it is for them to decide," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

When asked specifically whether the CPI(M) will tie up with Congress for the election, likely to be held in April-May this year, Yechury did not rule out the possibility outright.
"Our intention is to remove TMC from Bengal and the Modi government from the country," he said.
Yechury made the remarks on the sidelines of a condolence meeting convened here to pay tribute to CPI veteran AB Bardhan who passed away on January 2.
Former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, who also attended the meeting, said a decision regarding the party's election tactics will be taken by the Politburo and Central Committee on the basis of "political and tactical" line it adopted during its 21st Congress last year.

The party Central Committee is expected to meet next month, he said.

The Rajya Sabha member also demanded sacking of Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya in connection with alleged suicide by a Dalit student and sought action against them under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
"The Ministers can't continue to remain part of the Ministerial Council after committing such an offence. They should resign. The VC too should resign. Resignations are not enough, they should be punished under the Act," Yechury said.
Virtually kicking off the party's poll campaign in West Bengal, former state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had on January 16 sent out a message to Congress and other like-minded parties to join hands with the Left Front to oust the ruling TMC.

He had said, "We will change the situation. We can do it. We want Congress to make its stand clear in this regard. We want Congress and other Left parties to join hands with us to oust the TMC government."
Bhattacharjee's call to Congress came in the wake of similar statements by CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra and Politburo member Mohd Salim.