CPI-M will play bigger role, but allies too must chip in: Karat

Kolkata, Dec 18: Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Friday said his party, being the largest partner of West Bengal's ruling Left Front, would play a greater role in the coalition, but other constituents should also work responsibly to strengthen unity.

"As far as the CPI-M is concerned, we have a greater role to play in the Left Front. We will shoulder more responsibility as the CPI-M is the biggest partner in the left coalition," Karat said while addressing the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB)'s 16th Party Congress here.

"Other members of the Left Front should also play important roles and they must work collectively to strengthen the Left unity across the country," he said.

Condemning the ongoing violence and vicious attacks launched on the communists in the state, the CPI-M general secretary said that no party can progress unless it analyses its strengths and weaknesses.

"We will have to combat these attacks on our party supporters and cadres unitedly," Karat said, pointing out the need to evaluate its "shortcomings".

"If we can't evaluate our shortcomings, we can't progress further. We must learn lessons through the ups and downs we faced."

He said that Left Front government in the state was a product of decades of struggle and it truly represented the most advanced form of Left parties' unity in the country.

Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A.B Bardhan also pressed for Left unity in the state in his speech on the occasion.

He also admitted that in course of a long tenure, some "blunders" were committed in the state.

"But, we have to work towards forming a better Left Front in the days to come," Bardhan said.