CPM meet begins to discuss future strategy

Amidst strain in relations with the UPA government on fuel price hike, the CPM Central Committee meeting began.

Amidst strain in relations with the UPA government on hike in fuel prices, the three-day CPM Central Committee meeting began here on Thursday to chalk out its future course of action.

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"Ten core issues are likely to come up for discussion during the meeting, which spans national and international affairs," state party secretary BV Raghavulu said before the start of the meeting at Jubilee Hall.

CPM, providing the vital outside support to the Centre, is likely to discuss possibilities of reviving the Third Front regrouping non-Congress and non-BJP forces, he said.

Telugu Desam has sent enough signals to align with the Left in the agitation against petrol prices and indications are that CPM may rope in some other parties to initially launch a stir against the UPA policies.

Political situation in the country, the performance of the UPA government during the past two years and the decisive role of the party would most likely form the main line of discussion, sources said.

OBC reservations, petrol price hike and the foreign policy which "lacks independent identity" would come up for discussion they said adding that a political resolution would be adopted on the final day of the meeting.

The meeting being chaired by party general secretary Prakash Karat is being attended by 87 members including Chief Ministers Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (West Bengal), Manik Sarkar (Tripura) and VS Achyuthanandan (Kerala).

Former general secretary Harikishen Singh Surjeet and veteran leader Jyoti Basu did not attend the meet due to health reasons. A victory rally would be held later in the day to celebrate triumphs in West Bengal and Kerala in the recently held Assembly elections.