CPI-M politburo to take final call on tie-up with Congress

Kolkata, Feb 13 With the Left Front having given its approval, the CPI-M at the end of its two-day session on Saturday said its politburo will take a final call on the issue of forming an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls.

Chaired by veteran Marxist leader Biman Bose in the presence of general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his predecessor Prakash Karat, the two-day session saw the party discussing its strategy for the crucial assembly polls.

"Discussion with parties outside the Left Front are on, and at the session, members also discussed the issue of talks with the Congress. The state committee's views on the poll strategy will be put forth before the politburo. The politburo and the central committee will take a final call on the issue," the party said in a statement.

The CPI-M central committee is scheduled to hold a three-day session from February 16.

On Thursday, the Marxists led Left Front -- the state's main opposition -- gave the stamp of approval on holding alliance talks with the Congress, but put the ball in the Congress's court, saying it has to approach the combine first with the proposal. 

With the motto "Oust Trinamool Congress and save Bengal" and "Oust BJP to save India", the party said it will undertake a series of movements across the state to "save Bengal from anarchy, preserve communal harmony and re-establish democracy".

Calling on workers to strengthen the party organisation to take on the Mamata Banerjee government over a host of issues, the party also stressed the need to stand up against communal forces.

"Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is slated to undertake several programmes in the state during February 18-22. Going by the RSS' character, attempts can be made to disrupt the communal harmony in the state. We need to be on our guard and endeavour to preserve communal harmony," the party said.

With the assembly polls less than three months away, the state leadership of the CPI-M has time and again made overtures to the Congress for a joint fight against the Trinamool.

Last week, a majority of state Congress leaders also conveyed to party vice president Rahul Gandhi their desire to team up with the CPI-M.