CPI(M) looking forward to Oct 5 meeting : Karat

Kolkata, Sep 28 (UNI) Indicating that no immediate drastic move was being taken against the UPA Government on the Indo-US nuclear deal, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today said the party was looking forward to the October five joint committee meeting.

'' We are looking forward to the outcome of the October five meeting, '' he told reporters after the party's day-long crucial Polit Bureau meeting here.

His statement dropped a broad hint that the CPI(M), which had already vowed not to support the Government in the event of the nuke deal being operationalised, was working out a formula to put the ball in the court of the Congress for evading an early Lok Sabha poll.

Mr Karat said the Polit Bureau discussed almost all political issues. He, however, refused to divulge details of the meeting, saying the Polit Bureau would place its reports to the Central Committee tomorrow.

'' There will be discussions. Only then will we talk to you, '' he said.

Earlier, party spokesman Sitaram Yechury also indicated that the future of the Congress-led coalition Government at the Centre would be depending on the meeting of the joint committee of representatives from the UPA and Left parties following the spat over the 123 agreement.

He said the party considered the nuclear deal and the Ram Sethu controversy as equally important issues and both would be taken up for discussion.

However, Mr Karat said the Ram Sethu issue was not discussed at the Polit Bureau meeting.

In reply to questions, senior Polit Bureau member M K Pandhe said whatever decision the Polit Bureau took, it would be unanimous.

He said the Central Committee would also discuss a proposal for revocation of suspension of Kerala Chief Minister V Achutanandan and state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan from the Polit Bureau.

Today's meeting was attended, among others, by veteran leader Jyoti Basu, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, his Tripura counterpart Manik Sarkar, Ms Brinda Karat, Mr M K Pandhe, Mr S R Pillai and Mr P Umanath.

The one-day Polit Bureau meeting, perhaps most significant in recent times, would be followed by a three-day Central Committee meeting of the party, which would ratify the Polit Bureau decision.

Eds: Pls pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI