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CPI-M central panel meet likely to be stormy

The central committee of the Communist Party of India-Marxist will meet on July 16 in New Delhi to re-identify its ''main foe in the present political situation''.

Senior functionaries of the party told Rediff On The Net that a new thinking had emerged among some central committee members that the Congress was no longer their main foe as the "communal outlook" of the Bharatiya Janata Party was much more serious, they pointed out.

It is learnt that a section of the party's central committee is quite agitated ever since West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu said that the party's main foe had to be re-identified. Basu felt it is necessary in the new political order, marked by the emergence of communal forces as symbolised by the BJP and other constituents of the Sangh Parivar. Basu further said the Congress is no longer the CPI-M's main foe.

It is understood that central committee member Biman Basu took exception to Jyoti Basu's remarks, calling it as the latter's personal thinking. Biman Basu is supported by E Balanandan and Prakash Karat.

However, Sitaram Yechuri, another member, is apparently with Jyoti Basu on the issue. Basu and his like-minded party colleagues feel that, with the United Front considerably weakened and the Left parties unable to replace the BJP-led government, the Congress is the Left parties's best bet.

So, the Congress can no longer be regarded as the main enemy; it is the only party which can challenge the BJP. It is the latter that has emerged as the Left forces's main foe.

With opinions divided, the July 16 meeting could witness some fireworks, sources said.

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