CPI-M banks on mass contact to check downslide

Kolkata, (IANS) -Having suffered a series of electoral reverses, West Bengal's ruling Left Front major Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Sunday said it would lay stress on extensive mass contact to carry the party's views to the people.

Speaking at the conclusion of the party's two-day state committee meting here, CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose said the faults have to be rectified by improving the CPI-M's way of working.

"This can only be done by a better application of the party's policy of democratic centralism. We have to make the lower-rank party committees at the branch and zonal level more active and concentrate on an extensive mass contact," a party statement quoted Bose as saying.

Bose said the party's views have to be boldly put before the people to go forward with confidence.

"We will thwart the attack on the party and the Left movement by taking the people along with us," he said.

The state committee discussed the pressing demands of the people, protection of the democratic environment in the state and programmes for struggles and agitations.

The party would conduct a state-wide propaganda campaign in August-September, the meeting decided. The exact programmes would be finalised after discussions in the Left Front.

The party also advised its cadres to properly monitor the hearings related to additions and objections regarding the state's voter lists. "There should not be any shortcomings in this," the statement said.

Next year's crucial assembly polls would be fought on the basis of the revised voters' list.

The Left Front conceded ground to the Trinamool Congress-led opposition in the 2008 civic polls, last year's Lok Sabha elections and this year's civic polls. Political observers have been expressing scepticism about its ability to retain power next year.

The front has been in power in the state without a break since 1977.