Poll debacles: Ideological differences within CPI-M surface

NEW DELHI: After successive debacles in Lok Sabha and other polls, ideological differences within CPI(M) came to fore with senior leaders today debating reasons for fissures within, after Politburo member Sitaram Yechury moved a note challenging the official document on the political line the party should pursue.

The Central Committee of the party, which began a four-day brain storming session yesterday, started discussions on the draft political-organisational report which outlines reasons and drawbacks that led to such electoral performance and the internal differences on the tactics to be pursued by CPI(M) in future.

The discussion on party organisation was taken up after a section of the almost 100-member CPI(M) panel felt no political-tactical line would work if the organisation was not strong enough, party sources said.

The Central Committee had earlier taken up debate on the official draft political document and a counter moved by Yechury, reflecting differences over how to come out of the political morass. The debate on this issue is likely to be held later, they said.

Asked about Yechury's "alternative" note, senior CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia said there was "no alternative note. There is nothing unprecedented about it. There are so many notes which have been moved. Every party member has a right to put forth his or her views in this democratic forum. All views are being discussed here".

Acharia also said the final document emerging out of this debate would "represent all the views" and the party Congress, slated in April 2015, would take a final decision.

Another CPI(M) leader said, "We are discussing different political lines and there is nothing individual as is being focussed by the media."