CPI(M) Politburo member from Kerala, M A Baby today said the electoral strategy for poll bound Kerala and Bengal has to be in accordance with the political line adopted in the party Congress.
"Whatever be the electoral strategy of CPI(M) in various states, it has to be in accordance with the political tactical line adopted in the last party Congress, which calls for equidistance from BJP and Congress. So there can't be place for alliance with Congress," Baby told PTI over phone.
"I can't comment on the electoral strategy that will be adopted by the party unit in West Bengal ... There are options of flexible approach for states after gauging the ground realities. But that has to be in accordance with the political-tactical line adopted in the party Congress," he said.
Asked to comment on former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra's call to Congress to join hands with the Left Front, Baby said "I can't comment on it. Let it be discussed in Politburo and the upcoming central committee, which will take the final call".
Baby's comment reflects the mood of CPI(M)'s Kerala unit which is locked in a direct battle with Congress for the upcoming assembly elections, while a large section of the Left party leaders in West Bengal are in favour of forging an alliance with Congress to oust the ruling TMC from power.
CPI(M) will hold a two-day state committee meet from February 12 to take a call on the issue of electoral tactics, including alliance with Congress for the coming assembly polls in West Bengal.
The final decision on the issue of alliance will be taken by the party's central committee.
Congress leaders from West Bengal had unanimously rejected any alliance with TMC but remained divided on a tie-up with the Left when party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi held consultations with them.
