Polit Bureau to discuss alliances

Amid divergent views on coalitions, the CPM Polit Bureau will meet on Wednesday to discuss proposals for possible partners for the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

The alliances in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are likely to be hotly debated.

Except for some units such as Goa and Sikkim, all units have submitted their reports to the Polit Bureau, which will now discuss the concrete proposals in consonance with the Hyderabad Party Congress' decision to cooperate with secular parties, including the Congress, to achieve the objective of defeating the BJP.

One of the main points of discussion in the Polit Bureau is likely to be the Telangana unit's decision to not cooperate with the Congress-TDP-CPI alliance and going separately with its Bahujan Left Front (BLF).

In Telangana, the CPI is not part of the BLF front, while it has joined hands with CPM and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party

Congress senior leadership had approached the CPM to reconsider its decision to go against their alliance but the Left party's state unit has so far not shown any inclination.

Amid counter arguments that the CPM stand could end up dividing anti-TRS votes and end up helping it, sources said the state unit stand could come up for intense discussions in the Polit Bureau where opinion are divided over the relationship with Congress.

The alliance in Andhra Pradesh will also be under intense scrutiny.

Sources said the CPM is willing for a larger Opposition unity but the Congress has so far not shown its willingness to approach parties and take an accommodative view.

"We cannot liquidate ourselves in strongholds. We have to identify these seats. We may not win but not fighting leaves us with no cadres later," a senior leader said.

Sources said Congress' one-upmanship could end up isolating the main Opposition party.

The BSP moving away from the Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will be discussed in the meeting.

The party feels that the Congress should make amends and it would be difficult for it if it does not enter into alliances.

The CPM is also keenly watching the Congress' Bengal unit, which now has a new chief in former Trinamool Congress MP Somen Mitra.

Though Mitra was seen as a Mamata Banerjee critic, sources said he has a baggage, and even though the state unit is for an alliance with Congress, they will have to think twice.

The state unit, however, has told the central leadership that if the party is going to have an alliance or understanding, it should be public and not like the previous Assembly election.