New Delhi: The CPI(M) on Monday admitted that
some element of "alienation" and "anger" worked behind its
drubbing in West Bengal polls and did not rule out a change of
Central leadership, saying the process of introspection is on.
In an interview to a news channel, senior party Politburo member Sitaram
Yechury said the exercise of introspection is underway but
whether that will lead to a leadership change will be decided
by the party Central Committee which is meeting in June.
He also acknowledged that the withdrawal of Left support
to UPA-I had a "collateral damage" as it created a strong
opposition alliance in Bengal but insisted "we had no option".
Asked if someone should take responsibility for the
recent poll performance which have left CPI(M) with lowest
tally ever either in Parliament or assemblies, he said "it is
a question of owning up responsibility for what went wrong and
we are in the midst of that exercise... Owning of
responsibility has to be collectively done by the leadership".
On if the same leadership under which the debacle took
place can probe the causes or whether the Central Committee
can bring in "new people", Yechury said, "First thing the
Central Committee will do is to begin process of introspection
of what went wrong with the same existing leadership.
"As a consequence of that exercise what happens is a
different thing... nobody can say now. This exercise is
underway and let us see where it reaches."
He said the party Congress is likely to take place at the
end of this year. On whether a change of leadership can be
brought in there if the Central Committee so decides, he said,
"Yes, but all these depends on CC deliberations."
Probed further if it does mean that CPI(M) may see a
change of leadership by year-end, Yechury said, "I am not
saying this, don't put words in my mouth...there are
possibilities like this in any situation." He also said "going
by our records", the questions are likely to be "resolved"
rather than the CC asking the leadership to step aside.
Yechury said in Bengal, CPI(M) got 41 per cent of votes
which is more than what the governments in Maharashtra, Andhra
Pradesh or Bihar have but accepted that a definite "element of
alienation" and "certain element of anger" worked behind the
defeat.
PTI
First Published: Monday, May 23, 2011, 16:17