CPM finds draft economic agenda 'acceptable'

MANDATE 2004

The draft Common Minimum Programme (CMP), circulated by the Congress to its allies and supporting parties, is "generally acceptable" to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), senior party leader Somnath Chatterjee said today.

The Congress has also offered the Speakership to him and the Left parties were considering the offer, Chatterjee said. The Congress offer would be discussed by the CPI(M) Politburo, Chatterjee told a news channel.

He said there were no major difference in the economic policies of the CPI(M) and what was stated by Prime Minister-designate Manmohan Singh, particularly on disinvestment, as he said that the new government would not go for the privatisation of important public sector units.

In, Kolkata, CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri said ensuring the United Progressive Alliance government lasts its full term is a priority for the Left parties and there was no need to hurry on a CMP.

"We are not in a hurry so far as the CMP is concerned. The government would have to be run for five years," Yechuri, who flew to the Kolkata from Delhi for talks with top party leaders Jyoti Basu and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee on developments over government formation, told reporters.

"As far as the CMP is concerned, the United Front government took two weeks after swearing-in to finalise it. The NDA government took one week to finalise it. So, it will take some time to finalise the CMP because we will have to run the government for five years," he said.

CPI National Secretary D Raja said his party was yet to receive the CMP.

The Left parties have already sent their election manifestos to the Congress to enable it prepare the draft CMP.

The CPI(M) and CPI had yesterday welcomed Singh's statement saying it gave a direction to the policies to be pursued by the new government.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel today said his party was holding discussions with its allies on the finalisation of the CMP.

Lok Janshakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan today said the process for finalisation of the CMP for a Congress-led coalition government at the Centre was on course.

Paswan, who said he was yet to receive the draft CMP, exuded confidence that his party, Left and other coalition partners being part of a "family" that fought against the BJP together, "will be able to sort out our differences".

In the wake of the Lok Sabha elections, the National Democratic Alliance government had not made changes in the oil prices, leaving a tough task ahead for the new government.

Sources said the CMP would also give a new impetus to agriculture and irrigation. Singh has already made it clear the government would adopt policies that were "pro-growth, pro-investment, and pro-employment".

The CMP would also give a boost to infrastructure development with Singh expressing his resolve to continue some of the good work done by the previous government like highways project linking four metros and development of rural roads.