NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today declared that it would quit the United Front if the Congress joined the Front and was given a share in the Union Cabinet. The CPI (M)’s decision was announced in Shimla by senior politburo member Sitaram Yechuni, though it is yet to be officially ratified by the politburo. The politburo is stated to meet in New Delhi on October 13 and 14, prior to the United Front Steering Committee’s meeting on October 15, From all indications, the Steering Committee meeting is expected to be a stormy one, with the Left parties planning to question Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on a host of controversial issues. The CPI (M) has been worried over the possible entry of the Congress into the United Front, ever since Narasimha Rao quit as party president. With the developments within the Congress indicating that a large section of the party opposed to Rao, wanted to join the UF Government, the CPI (M) leadership has been discussing the implications of such an eventuality.
A week ago, Yechuni had told The Indian Express that the CPI (M) earlier stance of being part of anon Congress, non BJP coalition at the Center would hold, despite hectic developments over the last four months. But today, he announced his party’s stance clearly, reflecting his party’s position. Yechuni said that the Congress support to the United Front Was out of compulsion and not an obligation, The CPI (M) is clearly keen that this equation is maintained and the Congress is not given a larger role within the United Front. “If the Congress withdraws its support to the UF Government, the party would fare worse in the next Lok Sabha elections,” Yechuni reiterated. Two days ago, CPI (M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet had tried to adopt a soft line on the growing controversy, saying that the Congress joining the UF was not on the agenda. Surjeet failed to specify whose agenda he was referring to.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 9, 1996
