Bengal debacle: After Jagmati Sangwan quits CPM Central Committee, party expels her from body

New Delhi: A high-voltage drama played out at the central committee meet of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) over the party's poll debacle in West Bengal.

Senior party leader and general secretary of Haryana unit of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) Jagmati Sangwan boycotted the CC meet and quit in protest against the party's leadership's decision to align with the Congress in Bengal, a move that cost the party dearly.

Speaking to reporters, Sangwan said that the decsion to join hands with the Congress was against the tactical line adopted by the party. She demanded that strict action should be taken against the Bengal unit of the party.

Within hours of Sangwan's outburst, the CPM leadership announced that she stands expelled from the Central Committee for indulging in anti-party activities.

Earlier, party veterans exchanged heated words over the party`s poll debacle in West Bengal.

At the meeting, Surjyakanta Mishra, former Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, was charged with being "architect of the massive electoral defeat" for the party and "embarrassment" for his insisting for the alliance with the Congress.

Leaders from Kerala, Assam and Tripura favoured adopting resolutions under which the Bengal brigade "should own up their responsibility" for the alliance.