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CPI(M) : A new generation takes over |
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The 18th congress of the CPI(M) ended in New Delhi on Monday, April 11, with 56-year-old Parkash Karat taking over as the party general secretary. He replaced Harkishan Singh Surjeet who led the party for 12 years. Eighty-nine year old Surjeet had pressed for the change of guard because of his failing health.
Along with Parkash Karat, the new CPI(M) politburo also includes his wife Brinda Karat, who has become the first woman to be in the party’s highest decision-making body. Three other new faces in the 17-member politburo are trade union leader, Chittabrata Majumdar, All India Kisan Sabha general secretary K. Vardarajan and B.V. Raghavulu, a leader from Andhra Pradesh.
Though both Surjeet and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu wanted to be left out of the politburo on age and health grounds, they were persuaded to continue as members.
Observers say that the CPI(M) may take a harder line towards the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government with Parkash Karat taking over as general secretary. Immediately after assuming his new position, Karat said that the party would work for the creation of a third force, away from Congress and BJP-led formations. He hoped the third force comprising secular and democratic parties would have a common minimum programme. Parkash Karat said the party congress has assessed the performance of the UPA Government He said, “the ruling alliance has not implemented policies for workers and farmers as promised.”
Another point of focus of the CPI(M) under Parkash Karat’s leadership is expected to be expansion of the party in the Hindi belt. The party has its base at present mainly in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. But it has a presence in some other states. Many of the party leaders believe that it has not been able to play a more effective role at the Centre primarily because it is not a force to reckon with in the Hindi-speaking states. Parkash Karat himself said last week that the party needs to expand rapidly in the Hindi-speaking areas. He said without growing in the Hindi heartland, the party cannot grow much.
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