Need for CPM to expand influence, says Karat

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Saturday said electoral reverses in West Bengal and Kerala had made it imperative for it to expand its influence in other parts and project a Left and democratic alternative to defeat the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Party general secretary Prakash Karat, who released the draft political resolution ahead of the 20th Congress in April, said the party needs to expand its influence in other states.

"When the Left has suffered serious electoral reverses, and when West Bengal, the strongest base of the party is under attack, it is of utmost importance to expand the influence and the base of the party in other states," he said.

On Left unity, Karat said differences between the parties had to be addressed in a fraternal manner so that it does not weaken the Left Front.

The draft resolution said that CPI-M has to politically fight the Congress and the BJP as both parties represent the big bourgeois, landlord order "which perpetuates class exploitation and is responsible for the social oppression of various sections of the people".

It said the two parties pursue neo-liberal policies and advocate a pro-US foreign policy.

The draft resolution said defeating the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was "imperative given the crushing burden of price rise, unemployment, suffering of the farmers and workers on the one hand and the brazen corruption and big sops to big business and the wealthy sections".

"Isolating the BJP and countering its communal and rightwing agenda is necessary and important for the advance of the Left, democratic and secular forces," it said.

The CPI-M puts forth the Left and democratic alternative which needs to be built up through a process of movements and struggles, it added.

"In the present situation we should strive for joint actions with the non-Congress, secular parties on issues so that the movements can be widened. On specific policy matters and people's issues, there can be cooperation in parliament with these parties. As and when required, there can be electoral understandings with some of these parties," the draft resolution said.