leader of the CPI(M)’s hard-line faction Prakash Karat known for his no-truck policy with the Congress finally tended to bend backwards dropping hints of a possible understanding with the tri-colour outfit in the run up to next year’s Bengal Assembly elections.

Speaking in the sidelines of the extended party plenum Karat told media men that considering the “unprecedented” political situation prevailing in Bengal, the CPI(M) State Committee would be given the freedom to formulate a policy to deal with such situation. He was reacting to posers on possibility of an alliance with other parties like the Congress.

“There is a popular feeling in Bengal that the Trinamool Congress Government should be uprooted and ousted from power.  In that context, the State Committee will decide the tactical line” and send the report to the central leadership and politburo, which will then endorse the decision, Karat said.

Pursuing a hard-line view of 123 Agreement with the US in 2008 the CPI(M) general secretary had led the left to withdraw support from the UPA-I Government paving finally the way for an alliance between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress which roared to power in 2011 in Bengal. “Everyone knows that an extraordinary situation prevails in Bengal. Accordingly the State committee will deliberate and take a decision on the situation before sending a report to the politburo for consideration,” Karat said indicating what experts said the last stumbling block in the path of an alliance with a so-called bourgeois outfit had removed.

The Bengal line would have no influence on the party’s electoral policies in the other States, a central committee member said making it clear that the Marxists will follow different policies in Bengal and Kerala.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury had a few days ago given similar views. Curiously, the State Congress leaders including the PCC president Adhir Chowdhury had also not ruled out a truck with the left and insisted “we do not know have a view on the left at this point of time but one thing is clear that we will not ally with the Trinamool Congress.”

The views aired by Yechury and Karat were a fallout of the stormy session, sources revealed adding that Bengal leaders like Kanti Ganguli, Jibesh Sarkar had openly championed the Congress issue saying “if the party could join hands with the Janata Party-Jan Sangh to oust Indira Gandhi in 1977, why couldn’t they do so to oust the Trinamool!”