CPM to review ties after polls: Karat

Renewing its threat to the UPA government, the CPI(M) today said it would make an "overall assessment" of the political situation after the Assembly elections and then chalk out its course of action vis-a-vis the alliance.

The threat came after the two-day Central Committee meeting which concluded here yesterday.

"On a number of issues like airport privatisation, FDI in retail sector and foreign policy, the government has gone ahead despite our objection. So we will take stock of the situation and see what can be done," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said.

He said the party would not confine itself to the UPA-Left coordination framework and planned to join hands with other parties "on issue to issue".

In a statement, the party's Central Committee said, "Since on a number of policy matters, the UPA government is going ahead despite the opposition...such issues must be taken up inside and outside Parliament more assertively. The party should work with other parties who agree on such issues to raise such matters in Parliament and to forge joint platforms and movements outside."

Given the oft-repeated assertions by Left leaders that they will not rock the boat at the Centre as their main aim is to keep the BJP out of power, the latest statement is apparently addressed to the party cadres in West Bengal and Kerala, where the party is locked in a fierce electoral battle with the Congress.

Karat said the CPI(M) was against strategic partnership with the US. "It is shameful that India is saying it will partner Bush in spreading democracies. It is also disturbing that there was no official reaction when Bush attacked India's friendly countries and called for regime change in Cuba, Iran and Venezuela," he said.

The Central Committee termed the recommendations of the Indo-US CEOs' forum a "blueprint for opening up various sectors of the economy, including defence, to US capital".