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CPI-M politburo to review political developments

The Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo will meet in New Delhi tomorrow to review the latest political developments in the country following the collapse of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre.

CPI-M general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who was a leading player in the events leading to the fall of the BJP government, and West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu feel the Congress should head any proposed alternative government. The CPI-M and the Communist Party of India are expected to extend issue-based support to the congress-led-government from outside.

The two vetaran Marxist leaders will endeavour to convince the politburo of their point of view. The other two parties of the left front -- the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All-India Forward Bloc, with seven members in the Lok Sabha -- are however committed to opposing the installation of any Congress-led-government. It was the third force which should take a lead in this direction, they said.

Jyoti Basu called for all secular forces to immediately form an alternative government in the country following the fall of the BJP-led government.

"It is time to rally all the secular forces and elements to further isolate the communal forces in the greater interest of the country, he said in a statement after the defeat of the Vajpayee government in the Lok Sabha by one vote.

"The defeat of the government that symbolises the danger of communalism is great news for the people of India,'' he said in the statement.

Basu said the opposition should strive immediately for forming a secular alternative government.

"The opposition, I am sure, should get together immediately to see to it that an alternative government committed to uphold secularism is formed," he said.

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