<p>Defying directives from its central leadership, West Bengal CPM unit continues to consort with the Congress as it strongly believes that ties with the grand old party is the best survival strategy.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Despite drawing fire from both the Central Committee and the Politburo, Bengal secretary of the CPM Surjya Kanta Mishra said the state unit is going ahead with its four-pronged approach of organising mass movements as the CPM, joint movements with the Left partners, creating ‘greater Left unity’ and partnering with the Congress and other secular, democratic forces. <br /><br />Disregarding Central Committee’s recent statement that the party’s decision to pair with Congress in recent state elections is “not in consonance” with the 21st party congress, Mishra insisted that the state unit would not like to let go of the Congress. <br /><br />Matters came to a head when state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury invited Mishra and Left Legislative Party leader Sujan Chakraborty for a rally against price rise on June 24.<br /><br />Left leaders were absent apparently due to pressure from fellow Left partners, but first-time MLA Tanmay Bhattacharya participated in the rally. <br /><br />Though Mishra and Left Front chairman Biman Bose publicly censured him, sources said Mishra supported the ties with the Congress behind the doors.</p>
<p>Defying directives from its central leadership, West Bengal CPM unit continues to consort with the Congress as it strongly believes that ties with the grand old party is the best survival strategy.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Despite drawing fire from both the Central Committee and the Politburo, Bengal secretary of the CPM Surjya Kanta Mishra said the state unit is going ahead with its four-pronged approach of organising mass movements as the CPM, joint movements with the Left partners, creating ‘greater Left unity’ and partnering with the Congress and other secular, democratic forces. <br /><br />Disregarding Central Committee’s recent statement that the party’s decision to pair with Congress in recent state elections is “not in consonance” with the 21st party congress, Mishra insisted that the state unit would not like to let go of the Congress. <br /><br />Matters came to a head when state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury invited Mishra and Left Legislative Party leader Sujan Chakraborty for a rally against price rise on June 24.<br /><br />Left leaders were absent apparently due to pressure from fellow Left partners, but first-time MLA Tanmay Bhattacharya participated in the rally. <br /><br />Though Mishra and Left Front chairman Biman Bose publicly censured him, sources said Mishra supported the ties with the Congress behind the doors.</p>
