Agencies Posted online: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 0808 hours IST Updated: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 1553 hours IST
Coimbatore, September 11: Maintaining that the nuclear deal with the US would affect the sovereignty of the country, senior CPI(M) leaders said the party was not afraid of facing midterm elections to Lok Sabha in the event of operationalisation of the pact.
Addressing party workers on the occasion of forming a reception committee for the CPI-M's 19th All India Congress, scheduled to be held in March next, N Shankaraiah, Chairman, Control Commission, said the party was supporting the UPA Government headed by the Congress, only to prevent the 'communal' BJP, from returning to power.
He said the CPI(M) was growing from strength to strength and its ideology and opinion against the deal and also against joint Naval exercise were being debated across the country.
Saying that the UPA Government was deviating from its independent policy and also NAM stance, Shankaraiah said CPI-M was ready to face elections to the Lok Sabha even if the party had to draw a blank against the present 44 seats.
In his address, Central Committee member T K Rangarajan pooh-poohed the survey by a news channel which projected a fall in the party's share of seats and said CPIM would not deviate from its declared policy, even if it cost it a few seats, in case of a mid-term poll to Lok Sabha.
Politburo member R Umanath said the deal was hanging like a 'Damocles Sword' on India, as America would get a stick to interfere in political and economical issues of the country.
Umanath, who was elected Chairman of the reception committee, said CPI-M had strong influence on the government to decide on various issues.
Addressing party workers, State unit Secretary N Varadharajan said the Central committee would meet at Kolkata for three days from Sept 29, to decide on the dates of the congress.
The six-day party Congress would debate and deliberate various issues facing and confronting the country, like the impact of globalisation, liberalisation, Nuclear deal, price rise, agriculture and labour related problems, he said.
Fifty leaders from 35 countries and 175 party delegates, including Politburo and Central committee members would attend the Congress, Varadharajan, who was selected Secretary of the reception committee, said.
Coimbatore, September 11: Maintaining that the nuclear deal with the US would affect the sovereignty of the country, senior CPI(M) leaders said the party was not afraid of facing midterm elections to Lok Sabha in the event of operationalisation of the pact.
