CPI(M) Politburo member Prakash Karat said there can't be just yes and no in politics. (Press Trust of India file photo)
Stating that "flexibility tactics" is always there in the party to deal with emerging political situations, CPI(M) Politburo member Prakash Karat today ducked a direct question on an alliance with Congress saying there is nothing called "yes" and "no" in politics.
"The popular mood in West Bengal is building up to oust the TMC from power. We will take that into account and decide our electoral politics. Electoral tactics are not decided in the Plenum. It is for the state committees to take a call and then it is placed before the Central Committee and Politburo for approval," Mr Karat said while addressing a press conference on the fourth day of the party's Plenum.
When asked why the party leadership was not candid on a 'yes' or 'no' regarding alliance with Congress in Bengal, Mr Karat said, "There can't be just yes and no in politics. The state committee will discuss it and the final decision in this regard is expected within the next 4-6 weeks."
On the flexibility quotient in CPI(M)'s political line, the former party general secretary said, "Flexibility tactics is there in a context. Flexibility tactics is always there as our tactics has to be flexible to prepare for any new political situation that is arising."
Mr Karat's comment comes in the backdrop of ongoing speculation over a section of CPI(M) and state Congress leaders advocating in favour of forging an alliance to oust the Trinamool Congress from power in the coming Assembly elections in the state.
Mr Karat, who is considered a hardliner in the party, mentioning flexibility and avoiding a direct reply on the alliance assumes significance, as during his tenure as CPI(M) general secretary, the party had decided to withdraw support from the UPA-1 government over opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal.
The CPI(M), which is organising it plenum in Kolkata after 37 years, today took a resolution on the present political situation in West Bengal.
"This plenum of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) notes with concern the grave situation in West Bengal. The last four and a half year misrule has totally discredited both the Trinamool Congress and the government headed by it," said the resolution adopted by the party.
The resolution hailed the role of CPI(M) workers in resisting "terror tactics".
"The sustained movement that our party and the Left is conducting is drawing increasing support from the people. This campaign and movement will be intensified from January 2016, immediately after the plenum," it stated.
The resolution also called for resistance against the "undemocratic" Trinamool and the "communal" BJP.
"The CPI(M) salutes the heroic resistance movement by the people of West Bengal against the unprecedented terror and in defence of democracy and secularism. The plenum welcomes the determination of the Left and democratic forces to work for the defeat of the authoritarian rule of the Trinamool Congress as also further isolating the dangerous communal forces led by the BJP," it further stated.