CPI(M) central body members press for support review

The CPI(M) has decided to review its ties with the UPA government in the light of what it calls "the non-fulfilment" of promises in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

A large number of Central Committee members have made their intention known to the members of the Politburo.

These members say the UPA government is "more intent on publicising and pushing ahead its own policy with scant or no attention to the promises made during the formation of the UPA-Left co-ordination committee."

The issue is likely to be discussed threadbare at a Politburo meeting this week. This will be followed by a Central Committee meeting in mid-September.

"The UPA-Left co-ordination committee seems to have lost relevance. It is now for the Politburo to accept the Central Committee's suggestions and get them ratified at the coming meet," said a Central Committee member.

"The UPA's programmes are aimed at disrupting the co-ordination efforts woven out three years ago. We have to make up for the damage," he said. "We have been tolerating the UPA government's whims for the last three years. Time to protest has come," the member added.

According to party sources, two other issues likely to be discussed by the Politburo relate to the 19th Party Congress in Coimbatore in the last week of March 2008. The date for the meeting of the party's highest body would be proposed by the Politburo and vetted by the Central Committee in September.

The Politburo would also review the party's achievements of the last three years keeping in view the political line adopted at the 18th Delhi Party Congress, a party source said.