Nandigram, UP polls to dominate CPI(M) deliberations

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) The top leadership of the CPI(M) will deliberate threadbare on the socio-political fallout of the Nandigram incident, ensuing Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, price situation and communal tension among other things for three days from Saturday.

''We will review the national and international political developments during the last three months and finalise our strategy accordingly,'' party senior leader and Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury told UNI.

The inaugural session of the party's 17-member Polit Bureau in the morning of March 31, followed by Central Committee meeting the same evening, is also likely to focus on the party's stand on the Presidential elections in July.

Even as another party veteran and Polit Bureau member M K Pandhe said it might be too early to deliberate on the issue, the views of the participants are likely to be invited on Presidential polls. But a clear picture of the electoral collage will emerge only after the results of the seven-phased UP polls are out.

The name of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee for Presidential poll is already doing the rounds.

The party deliberations assume special significance in the backdrop of the Left constituents raising reservations over the police firing in Nandigram which killed as many as 14 ''ordinary people''. Fast political and administrative developments and the West Bengal government now dropping the chemicals hub project altogether in Nandigram would also have to be reviewed.

Only yesterday, state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee announced the scrapping of the proposed chemicals hub in Nandigram and waiting for the Centre's communication before announcing the new place within seven days.

The Central Committee will also deliberate on the growing communal situation particularly in the BJP-ruled states and finalise the strategy to contain the same.

Meanwhile, the party will hold tomorrow a National Convention on Sachar Committee recommendations here as part of its strategy to build inroads into the minority communities in particular the Muslims who account for over 150 million populace in the country.

Party General Secretary Prakash Karat will inaugurate the Convention to be addressed prominently by Salim Mohammad, the party deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha and other prominent MPs - Hanan Mollah and P Madhu Manan Hassan among others.

The party had set up a Committee on Minority Affairs, headed by Salim Mohammad in the Last Central Committee meeting held in Kolkata to suggest ways and means on organising the Convention.

UNI