Our Central Committee has taken this line, Sitaram Yechury said.
They are bitter rivals in Kerala. But can the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM and the Congress join hands in Bengal to take on the ruling Trinamool Congress in the forthcoming assembly elections?
"We are seeking the support of all democratic forces in Bengal," said senior party leader Sitaram Yechury at a press meet held ahead of the foundation ceremony of an ideological centre in the memory of Harkishen Singh Surjeet, the legendary communist known for his ability to make friends across the political spectrum.
Does his party consider the Congress as part of the democratic forces? "See in Bengal, our main priority is to secure people's unity and restore democracy. It isn't about party characteristics," said Mr Yechury, who is also known to be a party moderate like his mentor, Surjeet.
Last week, the Bengal unit of the CPM had said a categorical "yes" to a pre-poll alliance with the Congress despite their bitter parting over the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2008. The reason is clear: The CPM wants to consolidate the votes against the Trinamool and put up a joint front.
The Marxists, who ruled Bengal for 34 years, has consistently lost ground to the Trinamool and the emergence of the BJP is its new headache. A tie-up with the Congress -- that still has about 9 per cent votes -- will at least help prevent a split in anti -Trinamool votes. More importantly, it will create a strong joint front against the Trinamool.
For the past two days, members of the Central Committee -- the party's highest executive body -- debated the proposal and decided to take a somewhat ambivalent position.
But the biggest stumbling block against a formal alliance was Kerala where polls will be simultaneously held with Bengal.
The Congress and the Marxists are in the middle of a bitter campaign in Kerala and the Left is hoping to replace Congress government there.
Asked about the party's seemingly conflicting positions on Bengal and Kerala, all that Mr Yechury said was, "Our Central Committee has discussed this issue and taken this line."