CPI-M admits committing mistakes in Bengal, Kerala

The Communist Party of India - Marxist on Thursday admitted that the party-led governments in West Bengal and Kerala had committed mistakes and the police firing in Nandigram was one among them.

"Our governments in Bengal and Kerala committed errors. We correct those errors. We have an institutional mechanism to do that. We hope we get results for that," CPI-M politburo member M K Pandhe told reporters in New Delhi.

He was responding to a question about their expectations from both the states in terms of seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Refusing to speculate on the numbers, Pandhe said the Left Front in Bengal has not been allowed to carry forward their development policies due to opposition by an alliance led by Trinamool Congress.

Asked about the 'mistakes' committed by the Left-led governments, he said, "The police firing in Nandigram was one. (Bengal Chief Minister) Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee himself has admitted it."

On repeated questions on Kerala, the veteran Marxist leader said he 'did not want to list' the mistakes committed by the Left Democratic Front government there but indicated that factionalism in the state was an issue.

In a veiled reference to the factional feud in Kerala, Pandhe pointed out that at one point of time, Chief Minister V S Achutanandan and CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan were suspended from the politburo. Their suspension was later revoked.

"This is the only party which has a mechanism to correct itself. You should appreciate it. This is the only party which can suspend its senior leaders," he said.