CPM gears to go after support base

The CPI-(M) decided after its two-day politburo meet here, that it needs to launch a massive reach-out action to win over its core constituencies in West Bengal. The party aims to reach out to small farmers, agricultural workers, Muslims and weaker sections of the society — all its “traditional followers”.

The CPI-(M) decided after its two-day politburo meet here, that it needs to launch a massive reach-out action to win over its core constituencies in West Bengal. The party aims to reach out to small farmers, agricultural workers, Muslims and weaker sections of the society — all its “traditional followers”.

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Party sources said apprehensions were expressed that both “administration and the party machinery” were not doing what they have been directed to do in the wake of the drubbing in the last Lok Sabha polls. The politburo had elaborate discussions on the report of the defeat in the recent civic polls prepared by West Bengal state secretary, Biman Bose.

“The West Bengal State Committee will conduct a review of the elections on the basis of which necessary political and organisational steps can be taken to win back the confidence of those sections of the people who have moved away from the Party,” said a communique issued after the politburo meet.

A Central leader said there was no “scope” for calculations like a rift in Congress-Trinamool alliance would split the opposition votes. “It’s the weakening of the Left bases, and the desertion of the core constituencies due to a slew of factors that have resulted in the slide. We need to get into action mode, and address these issues rather than spending energy on other issues,” he said.

The meet also took note of the efforts at “caste polarisation” in Kerala and directed the state unit to steer clear of moves that can have minority-consolidation against the party ahead of Assembly elections. The politburo also reiterated the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the IPL issue.