After the electoral washout, CPI(M) now regrets its alliance with the Congress in West Bengal. The Politburo on Monday said the electoral alliance with the Congress was “not in consonance” with the party’s “political tactical line” which prohibited any poll understanding or alliance with the Congress. CPI(M)’s central committee meeting scheduled on June 18-20 will debate on the failed alliance and the reasons behind the failure.

“With regard to the electoral tactics pursued by the CPI(M) in various States, the electoral tactics evolved in West Bengal was not in consonance with the Central Committee decision based on the political-tactical line of the Party which states that there shall be no alliance or understanding with the Congress party,” the Politburo said in a statement.

Talking to the media about the outcome of the debate of the two-day-long Politburo meeting, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury dilly dallied on the exact reasons and approval given for forging of the alliance with Congress in the erstwhile citadel of the party. 

However, notwithstanding its unhappiness over tie-up with Congress during the polls, CPI(M) said the two parties, along with others, should launch a “united struggle” against the alleged attacks by the ruling TMC cadre against members of the Opposition parties.

Yechury  did not comment when asked if his party will take along in the “united struggle” the BJP, which is also alleging attacks by the TMC cadre. “...We have taken a very brave cognisance of the widespread violence that has been unleashed in West Bengal where all opposition parties are being attacked by Trinamool Congress.

“This is a grave situation in Bengal, so Politburo has given a call for a united struggle against this violence by all Opposition forces in the State and we have called for a united resistance to this,” the CPI(M) leader said.

Accusing TMC of launching a “systematic attack” on the Opposition parties in the State, he said the Mamata Banerjee-led party is targeting political rivals in those constituencies where it was “rejected”.

CPI(M), which along with three other left parties, had ruled West Bengal for 34 years before being dislodged by Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2011, performed miserably in the latest Assembly polls in the state. It was relegated to the third position after TMC and Congress as it managed to get only 26 seats against 40 last time in the 294-member Assembly. Congress, with which it fought the elections jointly, improved a bit this time by getting 44 seats against 42 last time.