[The following is the outcome of the party central committee meeting to tackle this ticklish issue.
<<Positioning itself for a possible repeat of 2004, when the Left parties offered support to the Congress-led UPA government from outside, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday announced that it would support the formation of an “alternative secular government” at the Centre. The phrase is significant, because the political line approved in the 22nd party congress in April in Hyderabad did not mention such a scenario. The political line approved then said the BJP had to be defeated without having a political alliance with the Congress, by pooling anti-BJP votes and with an understanding with all secular Opposition parties. Asked if the party would support such an “alternative secular government” if it was headed by the Congress, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “That depends. In 1996, you had a government without the Congress; in 2004, you had a government headed by the Congress. Let us see what the verdict will be.”>> (Excerpted from sl. no. I. below.) 《Asked if the Communist Party of India-Marxist would back Congress candidates where it would not field candidates, Yechury appeared to nod in the affirmation. The electoral tactics would be worked out to maximize putting together anti-BJP votes, he added. The former Rajya Sabha member said the task was to defeat the BJP to save India and defeat the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to save West Bengal. “We will work for the defeat of both (BJP and TMC) in Bengal… We will ensure this happens. “In Telangana, our objective is to defeat the BJP and ruling TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti”).” Asked about the talk of Rahul Gandhi becoming Prime Minister in 2019, Yechury said: “Someone told me in 2004 that Sonia Gandhi was ready to become the Prime Minister. But did she become? ... The Left party condemned the ongoing violence in Gujarat against migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and attacks against CPI-M workers in Tripura. He also demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale deal, saying BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not succeeded in their “cover up” efforts. It was a major case of corruption, which had affected the country’s sovereignty and security, he added. Yechury said said there was no need of money trail — as claimed by the BJP — to prove it as a scam because “law of political funding has so changed that anybody can buy electoral bonds, (which) are unknown, unaccountable. These bonds can be passed on to anybody”.》 (Excerpted from sl. no. II. below.)] I/II. https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu/20181009/282037623115525 CPI(M) to back a secular govt. Party Central Committee discusses possible support to the Congress The Hindu 9 Oct 2018 Sobhana K. Nair Positioning itself for a possible repeat of 2004, when the Left parties offered support to the Congress-led UPA government from outside, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday announced that it would support the formation of an “alternative secular government” at the Centre. The phrase is significant, because the political line approved in the 22nd party congress in April in Hyderabad did not mention such a scenario. The political line approved then said the BJP had to be defeated without having a political alliance with the Congress, by pooling anti-BJP votes and with an understanding with all secular Opposition parties. Asked if the party would support such an “alternative secular government” if it was headed by the Congress, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “That depends. In 1996, you had a government without the Congress; in 2004, you had a government headed by the Congress. Let us see what the verdict will be.” No grand alliance Mr. Yechury also ruled out an all-encompassing alliance, or mahagatbandhan, of Opposition parties at the national level. It has to be State-specific alliances with the strongest party leading such an alliance, he said. In 2004, the CPI(M) won 43 seats on its own, and the Left had a record presence in the Lok Sabha with 59 seats. The party is in a weaker position today and many of its leaders do not expect a dramatic change in electoral fortunes in 2019. The phrase “alternative secular government” has been introduced after intense discussions during the three-day Central Committee meeting, where once again it faced the dilemma of supporting the Congress. The West Bengal unit said it would need an understanding with the Congress. The State unit and Mr. Yechury said the party would be alienating a large section of the electorate, if it is not seen stridently opposing the BJP. The Central Committee has approved a threepronged strategy. First, the main task is to defeat the BJP alliance. Second, to increase the strength of the CPI(M) and the Left in the Lok Sabha and third, to ensure that an alternative secular government is formed at the Centre. II. https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/grand-alliance-not-possible-at-national-level-cpi-m/1342078/ Grand alliance not possible at national level: CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury The CPI-M on Monday said the formation of a grand-alliance at the national level was not possible though the party may think about it at the appropriate time but asserted that the priority was to defeat the BJP. By: IANS | New Delhi | Updated: October 8, 2018 9:41 PM Party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told the media that a “mahagatbandhan” was not possible at the national level. (IE) The CPI-M on Monday said the formation of a grand-alliance at the national level was not possible though the party may think about it at the appropriate time but asserted that the priority was to defeat the BJP. Party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told the media that a “mahagatbandhan” was not possible at the national level. “It may mean an alliance of the SP (Samajwadi Party) and BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) and allies in Uttar Pradesh. And in Bihar it will be led by RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal). This is what I am saying. “We will decide on joining the ‘mahagatbandhan’ when the time comes. Let things crystallise. For now, our priority is to defeat the BJP and ensure formation of a secular government,” said the Marxist leader after a CPI-M Central Committee meeting. If attempts were made to form pre-poll alliances in the states, the CPI-M would support them in order to pull down the BJP, Yechury said. “If the SP and BSP come together, we will be with them to defeat the BJP. In Bihar, we will support if the RJD and other secular forces join hands,” he said. Asked if the Communist Party of India-Marxist would back Congress candidates where it would not field candidates, Yechury appeared to nod in the affirmation. The electoral tactics would be worked out to maximize putting together anti-BJP votes, he added. The former Rajya Sabha member said the task was to defeat the BJP to save India and defeat the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to save West Bengal. “We will work for the defeat of both (BJP and TMC) in Bengal… We will ensure this happens. “In Telangana, our objective is to defeat the BJP and ruling TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti”).” Asked about the talk of Rahul Gandhi becoming Prime Minister in 2019, Yechury said: “Someone told me in 2004 that Sonia Gandhi was ready to become the Prime Minister. But did she become? “Do not predict about Indian politics… Decisions will be taken as the situation unfolds,” he said. Yechury said his party welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala temple and said the RSS and BJP were opposing it for their political agenda to polarise people. He dared the BJP to bring a legislation in Parliament if it wanted to overturn the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages in the temple. The Left party condemned the ongoing violence in Gujarat against migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and attacks against CPI-M workers in Tripura. He also demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale deal, saying BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not succeeded in their “cover up” efforts. It was a major case of corruption, which had affected the country’s sovereignty and security, he added. Yechury said said there was no need of money trail — as claimed by the BJP — to prove it as a scam because “law of political funding has so changed that anybody can buy electoral bonds, (which) are unknown, unaccountable. 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