Two-day CPI(M) Polit Bureau meet here from tomorrow

New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) The top leadership of the CPI(M) will gather here tomorrow for a two-day Polit Bureau meet to finalise its strategy for the coming Presidential polls, the holding of the next Party Congress and approach to UPA government's policies and other things.

''The party Polit Bureau meet, on May 25 and 26, will also hold discussions on the outcome in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh polls,'' Polit Bureau member Ms Brinda Karat told UNI.

The crucial meeting of the party's 17-member Polit Bureau, which implements the decisions of the party 85-member Central Committee, is being held at a time when the election of the next President tops the agenda of all political parties.

While the present incumbent Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's term expires on July 24, the election for the Vice President's post is also due in August.

The Polit Bureau meet -- to be attended by nonagenarians, the former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and former party General Secretary H S Surjeet, senior party leaders Sitaram Yechury, M K Pandhe, Biman Basu, Kerala and West Bengal Chief Ministers V S Achhutanandan and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee -- will deliberate on the current socio-political and economic scenario, at the party headquarters - A K Gopalan Bhawan.

Ms Karat said the discussions will be held on the national situation, the UP government's performance in the three years of its rule, a critical appraisal of it and their approach to its various policies and programmes.

Discussions in detail on the preperations for the next Party Congress would be held, she said, adding the date and the venue would be finalised.

The 18th Party Congress was held in Delhi in 2005 wherein party patriarch H S Surjeet had handed over the reins to Prakash Karat, while the party had resolved to expand its base in the Hindi heartland among other things.

However, the party leaders say the expansion of the party and other Left parties in Bihar and UP is the biggest challenge for the Left Front, which won a record 43 Lok Sabha seats in the 2004 general elections, followed by astonishing victories in Kerala and West Bengal.

But in the recent UP assembly polls, the party failed even to retain its two seats.

The Party will also discuss various reports to be submitted by its state units.

The CPI(M) would also discuss the ongoing talks between the government and the US administration on the nuclear deal, particularly the 123 agreement and other related issues.

UNI