Worried CPM to finalise rectification document

Worried over its image being "dented", CPI-M's top leaders will meet in New Delhi to finalise a "rectification document" to weed out corruption and other "wrong trends" from within and stem its "disconnect" with the people ahead of the 2011 assembly polls in crucial states of West Bengal and Kerala.

Politburo member and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had recently said that faith of the people on his party had been dented due to such "wrong trends" and had cost them dearly in the West Bengal elections.

Maintaining that "a section of the poor now think that we had looked after their interests in the past but no longer do so now", he had made a fervent appeal for self-critical efforts to refurbish the party's image and "bridge the gap between the party and the masses".

Against this backdrop, the CPI-M central committee would begin a three-day meeting to finalise the 'rectification document' that would include guidelines for top functionaries, MPs, ministers in states where it is ruling and the cadre.

The party would also review the latest political developments, the assembly election results, its campaign against the government on price rise, Indo-ASEAN Summit and other issues, CPI(M) sources said.

Another major issue to be discussed would be the attacks on party offices and its followers by Maoists and its political opponents in Bengal, they said.

The 'rectification document' is likely to come out with steps to stem the organisational rot while dealing with issues ranging from factionalism and ideological deviation to corruption and even "sabotage" of party's own candidates by sections within.

Issues relating to the "disconnect" between the CPI(M)-led governments in Bengal and Kerala and party's line and political priorities would also find a significant place in the document, the sources said.

There has been criticism within the party that certain functionaries at various levels were deviating from ideological positions and that corruption, nepotism and influence of money and even caste.

The party, while reviewing its Lok Sabha poll performance, has already identified a series of reasons for its debacle in Bengal and Kerala due to the alienation of poor and downtrodden sections.

These include neglect of work among rural poor, more dependence on government administration rather than mass mobilisation in Left-ruled states, arrogance and bureaucratic attitude among its leaders and cadres.

Corruption, nepotism, the influence of money and caste and even "sabotage of candidates" have also been identified as reasons for the electoral debacle, the sources said.

The extent to which the recommendations made in this document are implemented is expected to be significant as the Assembly elections are due in West Bengal and Kerala in 2011.