CPI(M) defends Basu's appeal to Congress supporters

Kolkata, Nov 2: The CPI(M) today defended its leader Jyoti Basu's appeal to Congress supporters to vote for Left Front candidates in the coming bypolls in West Bengal, while the two main opposition parties either rejected or refused to lend it any importance.

'It is up to them (Congress supporters) to accept it. But, whatever he said was in national interest,' CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said.

Describing Mr Basu as a 'father figure', Mr Yechury said the veteran leader had only put forth some 'suggestions'.

'He is above party politics and you cannot ignore him,' Mr Yechury said.

However, Pradesh Congress Committee working president Pradip Bhattacharya summarily rejected Mr Basu's appeal.

'Jyotibabu is a respectable person. But, we cannot accept his appeal to the Congress workers and supporters. We have rejected it,' he said.

'Every party goes by its own political decisions. In this state, we have taken a political decision based on the local objective to align with the Trinamool Congress and the alliance has come out with spectacular success so far. We will continue our alliance,' he said.

'At the same time, it is our political decision to oppose the CPI(M) as it was for the Left parties to support the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre in 2004,' Mr Bhattacharya said.

He observed that it was a 'compulsion' on the part of the CPI(M) and other Left parties to support the UPA since there was no other choice left to them at that time.

Scoffing at Mr Basu's appeal, Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee described it as something 'non serious'. 'It is something non-serious. Such things are being done to dilute the seriousness of politics. In view of the serious political situation in the state where our party workers are being killed by the CPI(M), I don't consider his comment important enough to even react to it. There are other pressing political problems and issues,' she added.

Ms Banerjee alleged that the nonagenarian CPI(M) leader, who was no more in active politics, was 'made to issue' the statement.

'Otherwise, they (CPI-M) do not give him any weightage. His medical treatment is also neglected,' she said.

Seeking reciprocity to the Left's 'unconditional' support to the UPA government, Mr Basu yesterday appealed to the Congress supporters to support the ruling Left Front in the November seven Assembly bypolls.

'Today, when the state is in danger, I specially request them to come forward and support the Left candidates to maintain peace, discipline and development,' he had said in the signed statement, which is being interpreted as yet another attempt by the Marxists to drive wedge between the Congress and Trinamool.

Accusing the Trinamool and the Maoists of being hand-in-glove in perpetrating violence to endanger democracy in the state, Mr Basu had said it was time for all to come forward and support the Left for the sake of peace and development.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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