The Hindu : National : CPI(M) willing to give UPA Government more time

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Sunday, Feb 13, 2005

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CPI(M) willing to give UPA Government more time

By Our Special Correspondent

The former West Bengal Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu, delivers a speech at the conclusion of the 21st State Conference of the CPI (M) in Kolkata on Saturday. The West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, looks on. — Photo: Parth Sanyal

KOLKATA, FEB. 12. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is still willing, even nine months after the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government assumed power, "to give it [the Centre] some more time" to fulfil the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) aimed at benefiting the working class, the peasantry and the common man.

The CPI (M) would take stock of the "record" of the UPA Government's performance at its party Congress to be held in Delhi in April "and then decide on moves [that might need to be taken] in the future," the Politburo member, Prakash Karat, said at a rally here today, a day after the conclusion of the three-day 21st State Conference of the party. The Union Budget to be placed at the end of the month would indicate the Government's policy priorities.

The party Congress would also enable the CPI (M) leadership "to find out why we have not been able to extend [our influence] to other parts of the country [beyond West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala]," the Politburo member and former West Bengal Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu, said.

They would also discuss how best to "replicate it [the party's performance in West Bengal] in other States...where the party is not strong enough despite having mass organisations," he said.

"Complex political situation"

Mr. Basu said the present political situation was "complex." "We have told them [the UPA Government] be there [in power] for five years. But why are you [the Congress] still opposing us in the States?

"We could never imagine supporting the Congress on the basis of the CMP after having opposed the party over the past 45 years...but the party still opposes us in the States ...we need to understand this better."

"We are supporting the UPA Government only on the basis of certain conditions," the West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, said. There could never be total agreement on all issues "and I have told the Prime Minister on occasions to think more seriously before deciding to shut down our factories and textile mills."

"We cannot support them if they go the same way [as the previous Government]... Where have the promises of improving the lot of people in the rural areas gone? What have they done about them?" he wondered. "We have told Delhi that we are supporting you but don't ignore us," Mr. Bhattacharjee added.

The CPI (M) general secretary, Harkishen Singh Surjeet, underlined the need for regularly assessing political developments. The State Secretary, Anil Biswas, said that the party organisation should be strengthened for consolidating democratic forces against communal and imperial forces. The Left Front chairman, Biman Bose, presided.

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