Sen and the art of maintaining discipline in CPM

With Assembly elections in the Left-ruled West Bengal and Kerala not far away, the Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo on Wednesday decided to set up a "disciplinary commission" as part of its exercise to rectify "vices and lapses" right from the top.

"The politburo has decided that the commission is necessary to tackle the indiscipline, vices and lapses that have crept in because of a long stint in power. The commission is needed to deal with erring party men from top to bottom," CPI(M) politburo member Nirupam Sen told reporters.

Assembly elections are due in West Bengal and Kerala next year and the move by the senior partner in the Left comes in the wake of its poor showing in the latest Lok Sabha elections, especially in the states where they are in power.

Outlining the commission's role, Sen said it would expeditiously deal with complaints and mete out punishment, while opportunity would be given to make an appeal to the party's existing control commission.

The politburo's decision would be placed before the three-day meeting of the Central Committee beginning tomorrow for ratification, Sen said. The members and head of the disciplinary commission would be decided by the Central Committee once it was ratified.

"The rectification document has been adopted in the Central Committee meeting of the party last October and now it is time for implementing its recommendations," he added. CPI(M) politburo member M K Pandhe clarified "rectification is necessary from the top to remove non-Communist trends within the party".

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said unless we begin rectification from the top, how can we enforce it on others?" CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, politburo members Brinda Karat and Sitaram Yechuri were among those who attended the meeting.