CPI-M to work on non-Congress, non-BJP platform

New Delhi: Apparently launching preparations for upcoming state assembly polls and the general elections, the CPI(M) plans to organise a national convention in June-July with other Left parties to prepare a common minimum programme to provide a non-Congress, non-BJP platform.

The Central Committee of the party, which began its two- day meeting in the national capital on Saturday, is understood to have decided to project this alternative while joining hands with other secular parties who would accept such a common minimum programme (CMP). The CPI(M) will also focus on the land issue, including the Land Acquisition Bill, and launch agitations and picketing across the country. The party has in the recent past carried out campaigns and movements on FDI in retail, food security and other issues. On the CMP, the senior leaders attending the meet debated on the list of issues to be focussed in this programme that could attract other secular opposition parties to the non- Congress, non-BJP platform, party sources said. The prevailing "fluid" political situation, the assembly elections in four states later this year and speculation about advancing of the general elections came up for threadbare debate at the meeting, they said. The CPI(M), whose strength came down sharply from 44 in the 14th Lok Sabha to 16 now, has already decided to project the Left and secular forces as the alternative to the Congress and the BJP led formations. The developments in West Bengal in the wake of the Saradha ponzi scam and Mamata Banerjee government "creating hurdles" in the way of holding timely panchayat polls also came up for discussion, sources said. The Central Committee would also deliberate on organisational issues, including disciplinary action against its stalwart and former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan. In February, the party`s Kerala state committee had voted a resolution to remove Achuthanandan as the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly and initiate action against him for violating party discipline. It had then decided to forward the resolution to the Politburo and the Central Committee for a final decision. PTI