CPM's open approach towards Cong

NEW DELHI: Even as the Marxists sharpen their anti-Congress rhetoric, the CPM is likely to retain its two-pronged approach towards the party. While ruling out a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, the CPM will keep its options open in the post-election scenario, just like it did the last time.

The draft political resolution for the 19th Congress, which will be finalised at the party’s central committee meeting here from December 20 to 22 will bring under the scanner the UPA government’s policies, including the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Though the Congress, as in the CPM’s earlier political resolutions, will be accused of pursuing “discredited” economic policies that it initiated in 1991, the CPM is expected to maintain its familiar political strategy—to keep the BJP out, the party’s “tactics” should be focused on mobilising “secular” forces.

According to party sources, if the post-poll scenario of the 2004 Lok Sabha elections repeated and the Left support was imperative to keep the saffron party out of power, the CPM would consider replaying its present role of an outside supporter of the Congress-led coalition. With the CPM not seeing any immediate viable third front, an understanding with the Congress would be its only recourse to target the BJP.

Ironically, the draft political resolution, which will be the party’s guiding document for the next three years, is being finalised at a time when the CPM has given an ultimatum to the Congress to either withdraw from the Indo-US nuclear deal or face mid-term polls. The party already has the central committee’s backing to oppose the nuclear deal.

The CPM, whose electoral battle in its strongholds will be mainly pitted against the Congress, will reflect its disapproval of the Manmohan Singh regime’s foreign and economic policies over the past three years in the political resolution. The Congress’ “class character”, which has been oft cited by the CPM as the reason for distancing from the party, is expected to face further flak, given that the Left has been accusing the government of pursuing “pro-rich” and “pro-corporate” policies.

The government will also come under attack for “non-implementation” of the recommendations of the Sachar Committee. The political resolution will devote a portion to uplift of Muslims, a section which has got a bad deal in the Left Front-run West Bengal, according to the Sachar panel’s report itself. The CPM, which has been in the firing line in West Bengal over Rizwanur issue and Nandigram, will make suggestions to improve the status of minorities. The political resolution will be adopted by the party at its Congress in March next year.