Poll tactics in Bengal to be decided at appropriate time:CPI-M

NEW DELHI: CPI(M) today sought to scotch speculation regarding its poll tactics after senior leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee asked Congress to join hands with the Left to oust the TMC government in West Bengal, saying its electoral line would be decided by its top decision-making bodies at an appropriate time.

"There is a lot of speculation over the tactics that the CPI(M) will employ in the forthcoming elections to the state assemblies. The CPI(M)'s electoral tactics will be in accordance with the political-tactical line adopted at its 21st Party Congress," its Politbureau said in a statement.

"The Polit Bureau and the Central Committee will take a decision at an appropriate time regarding electoral tactics in each of these states," it said.

Virtually kicking off the party's poll campaign in West Bengal, Bhattacharjee had yesterday sent out a message to Congress and other Left parties to join hands with Left Front to oust the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The former Chief Minister, who visited Singur from where the Tata Group had shifted their Nano car project to Gujarat, said, "If the (Nano) factory was set up here, the situation would have changed in Singur. But only darkness prevails".

He 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.