CPI(M) deliberating on measures to checkmate BJP

Kolkata, Jan 2 (UNI) Trying to create a strategy to checkmate the BJP in the coming Assembly elections in four states, the CPI(M) Central Committee (CC) met here today, beginning its three-day deliberations, which also took up the infighting in the Kerala unit onto its agenda.

The CC is also likely to take up issues like Special Economic Zones, the spiralling price rise, land acquisition for industry and the India-US nuclear deal.

''We will take a decision on the party's strategy to be taken in the forthcoming elections in Punjab, Uttaranchal, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh. We have to ensure that BJP does not extract advantage in the emerging political situation in the country,'' Polit Bureau member M K Pandhe told reporters.

He said the initial line of the party was to strengthen the democratic and secular forces and any decision would be taken on the basis of that principle.

Mr Pandhe, however, categorically denied report in a section of the press quoting him as having said that the party would not go for alliance with the Samajwadi Party, led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav in UP.

A decision on the dates of UP Assembly polls has to be taken while polling in Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur will be held in February.

Veteran leader Jyoti Basu said the CC would discuss the Kerala issue on the basis of a Polit Bureau report, prepared in the one-day meeting yesterday and the burning issues in different states.

''The Polit Bureau has already discussed the Kerala problem. The PB report will be placed in the CC for a discussion,'' he said.

In reply to a question, he however, said the Singur issue would not be discussed in the ongoing meeting though the recent happenings in West Bengal would be taken up by the CC for a review.

In order to resolve the organisational tangle in Kerala where Chief Minister V S Achutanandan and party's state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan were leading two opposing groups within the party, Mr.Basu tried to broker a rapprochement at the Polit Bureau meeting.

While agreeing that the Chief Minister should not have been kept in dark by the members of his council in seeking Asian Development Bank loans, Mr Basu reportedly exhorted Mr Achutanandan to be more flexible in taking foreign loans, considering the ground reality.

UNI