The weekend CPI(M) politburo meeting to consider a rethink of its central line adopted at the 2007 Coimbatore party congress — of bringing together “non-Congress and non-BJP” parties to form a “third alternative” — remained inconclusive. Some members noted the lack of credibility of the “third front”, and cited how the SP, BSP and RJD voted for the government in the parliamentary cut motion.
The politburo will meet again on July 3-4 to set the agenda for the extended central committee meeting in August, where a fresh political line is expected to be adopted. “No, we have not reached a consensus. There are differences on the political line adopted at the last congress,” a senior CPI(M) leader said.