CPI(M) Politburo meet begins

New Delhi, Jun 19 (PTI) A crucial meeting of Communist
Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Politburo began here on Friday
to review the Maoist siege of Lalgarh, post-poll violence in
parts of India's eastern state of West Bengal, organisational
problems in Kerala and its worst-ever defeat at the hustings
recently.

Top leaders of the party including Chief Ministers of
CPI(M)-ruled states are participating in the meetings of the
Politburo and Central Committee that have been called to take
stock of these issues.


The prime concern of party leaders would be to find ways
and means to tackle the Maoist violence which they alleged
was being actively backed by Trinamool Congress in its bid to
"destabilise" the Left Front government in West Bengal.

Politburo member M K Pandhe said, "It's an election
review meeting."

Asked whether the Lalgarh issue would also figure in the
discussions, he said, "We have to discuss that part also."

On the party's electoral performance, state units of West
Bengal and India's southern state of Kerala, where CPI(M)-led
coalitions suffered their worst poll debacle since the party's
inception in 1964, have accepted that the idea of Third Front
championed by Left parties was rejected by the people and
there have been serious violations of Communist principles by
its followers which led to the rout.

The two decision-making bodies of the party, whose
strength in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament)
declined to 16 from 42, are expected to recommend steps to
rectify the drawbacks so as to enable it to confidently face
assembly polls in the two states in 2011. PTI