CPI(M) Polit Bureau meet to chalk out Election strategy

Kolkata, Jan 1 (UNI) The CPI (M) Polit Bureau met here today for a day-long deliberation on the party's strategy in the coming Assembly elections in four states, including the politically-significant Uttar Pradesh.

The party also discussed internal problems in the Kerala unit and the issue of land acquisition for industry in West Bengal, among other things.

Most of the Polit Bureau members, including General Secretary Prakash Karat, veteran leader Jyoti Basu, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and his Kerala and Tripura counterparts V.S. Achutanandan and Manik Sarkar, respectively were present.

The meeting discussed in threadbare the current political situation in the country and its strategy for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab and Manipur.

It reviewed the report of UP state unit and discussed the possibility of forging alliance. The CPI (M) had earlier declared that the party would strike an electoral alliance with a local force in Uttar Pradesh to fight both the BJP and Congress.

However, the party's UP unit was reportedly against joining hands with the ruling Samajwadi Party, led by Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Assembly elections in Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur would be held in February while the date for Uttar Pradesh is yet to be announced.

The meeting also reportedly took up for discussion the problems following the infighting in Kerala, where Chief Minister V.S.

Achutanandan and state committee secretary Pinaraiya Vijayan were leading two rival factions.

However, senior leader Sitaram Yechuri claimed that 'there is no crisis in Kerela'.

According to informed sources, the meeting reviewed the recent unrest triggered by Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee over the Singur issue and discussed the issue of land acquisition for industrial purpose.

The Polit Bureau meeting would be followed by a three-day Central committee meeting from tomorrow.

UNI