Ruling out any changes in the party leadership, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday admitted that policy shortcomings and mistakes in the handling of Singur and Nandigram proved costly to the Left Front in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
“Notwithstanding the big achievements of the Left government, over the last three decades, there were shortcomings and weakness in some of the policies and measures adopted for the welfare of the people, the mistakes with regard to Singur and Nandigram proved costly to the party,” he told reporters here.
Speaking after the conclusion of the three-day meet of CPI(M) politburo and central committee, he said, “Election outcomes do not determine leadership changes in CPI(M).”
The meet assessed results of recent Assembly elections in five states with special focus on West Bengal and Kerala, where the party was in power.
He blamed the ganging up of political forces ranging from rightist forces to the Maoists behind the Trinamul Congress, for the Front’s performance.
“The people voted for change,” he said.
“In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front(LDF) lost narrowly, in our review the central committee appreciated the work of the CPI(M) and the LDF in the election campaign. The central committee has directed the Kerala unit to ensure various aspects of election results and take steps to further strengthen the party in Kerala,” Mr Karat said.
Mr Karat said corrective measures will be taken to strengthen the party but did not elaborate on what they would be.
Despite the adverse circumstances, 41 per cent of voters had voted for the Left Front in West Bengal, Mr Karat said.
“The prolonged rule led to accumulation of negative factors. We are trying to find out what are the reasons that impelled the people to opt for change. We are also noting that two crore people have voted for the Left. It is 41 per cent of the total vote. The poor have stood with the Left,” Mr Karat said here.
Significantly, former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did not attend the crucial meeting, citing health reasons.
“His health does not permit him to move out of Kolkata. He has already told me that he will not be able to attend the meeting in Hyderabad,” Mr Karat said.
The central committee has decided to hold the 20th Congress of the party in the beginning of April 2012 in Kerala and the exact venue will be decided shortly, the CPI-M general secretary leader said.
The party Congress was supposed to have been held in April this year but it was deferred due to the Assembly elections, he said.