CPM meet to review mistake

Veteran politburo member Jyoti Basu had earlier described the party’s decision as a “historic blunder”. Controversy on the issue which had rocked the party for quite some time had even come out in the open.

Surjeet said the central committee had decided at that time not to take part in the government. Now other delegates would speak on the issue in the congress. “Our’s is a most democratic party, every delegate has the right to raise any issue”.

Refusing to give any reply if he felt that the central committee’s decision wascorrect, Surjeet said that it would be debated on Saturday.

Surjeet who introduced the draft political-organisational report at the congress during the day said the current political situation was very complex and it was important to ensure that any tactical approach taken by the party did not affect the mass movement.

The current tactics, he said, must be in tune with the strategic aim of building a left and democratic alternative.

Even as the party broadly adopted the line propagated by Jyoti Basu and Surjeet of lending issue-based support to the Congress to form an alternative government at the Centre in the event of the fall of the Vajpayee Government, it had to modify the stand in the face of opposition from many delegates.

Despite maintaining that it would extend issue-based support to the Congress, the tactical line chalked out by the party laid greater emphasis on forming a third alternative primarily consisting of left and democratic forces.

Surjeet even ruled out the possibility oflaunching a mass movement with Congress against communalism. “We have no common ground with them to launch a mass movement,” he retorted when asked about such a possibility.