CPI(M) distances itself from Subhas' statements
Kolkata (PTI) The West Bengal CPI(M) on Tuesday distanced itself from comments by senior party leader Subhas Chakraborty expressing reservation about the party not joining the Congress-led UPA government in 2004 and its decision to withdraw support to it over nuclear deal.
"The comments made by Comrade Subhas Chakraborty in an interview to a private news channel yesterday has no connection whatsoever with the political position of the CPI(M)," party state secretary Biman Bose said in a statement here.
It, however, did not refer to Mr. Chakraborty wondering why the party's top party leadership was "running the show from behind closed doors, and did not contest the elections".
Mr. Bose said what the minister stated on the decision of the CPI(M) not joining a Congress-led government in 2004 was contrary to the resolutions of the Central Committee and the Party Congress.
"The support to the Congress-led government was withdrawn by the party in July 2008 based on a unanimous decision of the Central Committee," Mr. Bose, who is a Polit Bureau member of the party said.
"Had we not withdrawn support it would have meant our acceptance of the Congress government's surrender before US imperialism," Mr. Bose said.
Mr. Bose said the initiative to work for a non-Congress, non-BJP secular alternative government, which would adopt pro-people policies and pursue an independent foreign policy, was taken based on a unanimous decision by the Central Committee.
"Discussions with various parties were held with the objective. Discussions with BJD leader Navin Patnaik was also held as part of this understanding. The BJD has severed links with the BJP and the NDA," he said.
