Kozhikode:
The 20th party congress of the CPM that began in Kozhikode on 4th April is all set to re-elect Prakash Karat as the party's secretary for the third term.
But his third term would also be his last as the congress is also likely to vote in an amendment that limits the term of all party secretaries -- from general secretary to local committee secretary -- to a maximum of three terms.
This is for the first time that the CPM is limiting tenures of its leaders. The move has apparently been prompted by sections of the party who questioned Karat's decisions on some critical issues.)
It's one of the most significant constitutional changes the CPM has ever ushered in: setting a limit of three terms for the party general secretary.
"We feel," said Karat, "that there must be some institutionalised basis for bringing change and renewal in all levels of our party. So both continuity and change is needed. Nearly a decade of being in one responsibility -- 3 terms is almost a decade -- will ensure a degree of continuity and change is also required."
By this rule, Karat, who became general secretary in 2005, is all set to continue in office for the third term.
But sources say the move to push through this amendment has come from sections of the Kerala and Bengal unit of the party.
The Kerala section is unhappy with Karat's handling of the spat between VS Achutanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan and Mr Achutanandan's ultimate exit from the politburo.
The Bengal section is unhappy with his decision to withdraw support to UPA 1 which they felt led to the assembly poll debacle.
Karat however denied he ever felt pressured to quit.
"Party is categorical and clear about the withdrawal of support to the UPA. This has been concluded at Vijayawada also. In fact we feel we should have withdrawn support earlier before India went to the International Atomic Energy Agency," said Karat.
The Central Committee has reached a consensus on re-electing Karat for his third term and will do so on the last day of the congress, on April 9.
So Prakash Karat seems set for his third term as CPM party secretary. He may have had to fight to retain his position. But that is something neither he nor the party will ever publicly admit.