CPM top brass to discuss party's growth

NEW DELHI: The political situation in four election-bound states and the progress made in spreading the party’s network in Hindi-speaking and new areas of the country would come up for discussion at the CPM Central Committee meeting starting here on Sunday.

The party is also expected to come down heavily on the UPA government on various fronts including its “failure” to check price rise and face the situation arising out of the agrarian crisis.

A meeting of the Left-UPA Coordination Committee, likely next week, is likely to discuss the comprehensive note on the Left assessment of the government’s performance submitted three months ago.

The CPM has said it would decide the future course of action after hearing the government’s response on it. Left trade unions have already announced plans for nationwide industrial strike on December 14 on various issues.

The Central Committee meeting comes in the backdrop of CPI and RSP making a case for independent Left intervention in ensuing assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur and Uttarakhand in order to avoid a split in the Left votes.

However, the CPM, which is in alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party in UP as against CPI’s tie-up with V P Singh- led Jan Morcha, is likely to decide on its poll strategy in October after discussing the issue with its state unit.

On the organisational front, a draft report, finalised by the Polit Bureau in Kolkata earlier this month, would be placed before the Central Committee. The draft would present a review of the work on the organisational front and the implementation of the tasks set out by the 18th Party Congress held in 2005.

On agrarian crisis and price rise, the CPM has been maintaining that the government stop future trading in foodgrains and other essential commodities as it was leading to speculation, hoarding and high inflation.

The party has also criticised the government’s decision to allow import of wheat by private traders with zero duty. On special economic zones, it has decided to seek cooperation of other political parties to demand amendments in the SEZ Act so as to ensure compensation to farmers whose land was being taken away and enhance the prevailing 25% of land-use for industrialisation.

Regarding the foreign policy front, CPM leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury and CPI’s A B Bardhan and D Raja were briefed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, days ahead of the Central Committee meeting, on his recent visit to Havana to attend the NAM Summit as well as his meeting with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

The Left parties, which have been critical of the government’s “tilt” towards the US in foreign policy, however generally welcomed the decision to establish a joint mechanism with Pakistan on fighting terrorism. They had urged Singh before the visit that the dialogue process with Pakistan must be resumed. The Central Committee would also deliberate on these issues.