Biman Basu Statement

Biman Basu, Secretary, West Bengal State Committee, CPI (M), has issued the following statement:
The comments made by Com. Subhash Chakraborty in an interview to a private news channel yesterday evening, has no connection whatsoever with the political positions of the CPI (M). His assessment of the Congress Party goes against the understanding of our Party. What he has said regarding the decision of not joining a Congress led Government in 2004 is contrary to the resolutions of the Central Committee and the Party Congress. Support to the Congress led Government was withdrawn by the Party in July 2008 on the basis of a unanimous decision by the Central Committee. Had we not withdrawn support, it would have meant our acceptance of the Congress Governments’ surrender before US imperialism. Our Party is firmly anti-imperialist and therefore we could not accept Congress Governments’ surrender before US imperialism. The Central Committee of the Party took these decisions in keeping with the line decided by the last Party Congress.
The initiative to work for a non-Congress, non-BJP secular alternative Government, which will adopt pro-people policies and pursue an independent foreign policy, was taken on the basis of a unanimous decision by the Central Committee. Discussions with various parties were held with the above objective. Discussions with BJD leader Naveen Patnaik was also held as a part of this understanding. The BJD has severed its links with the BJP and NDA. The CPI (M) is confident of formulating a minimum programme with these parties, which will comprise of pro-people economic policies, secularism, genuine federalism and independent foreign policy. A third front government formed on that basis will enjoy huge mass support, and peoples’ struggles will ensure the stability of that Government.
During the period between two Party Congresses, it is the Central Committee of the CPI (M) that takes political decisions on the basis of its assessment of national and international developments. The day to day activities of the Party in different States are guided by those Party decisions.