GUWAHATI, Nov 22 - The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is of the view that the ongoing agitation against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill or CAB has the potential to evolve into a broad-based front of all �anti-BJP� forces in Assam.
However, unlike its Left Front partner Communist Party of India (CPI), the CPM is so far non-committal on whether it may be willing to explore the option of a pre-poll alliance or some sort of seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress for the 2021 Assam Assembly elections if the principal Opposition party makes a formal proposal in this regard.
�We have so far not started deliberations within our party forum on the tactics and strategies to be adopted for the next Assembly elections. However, the general line of our party is that we consider the BJP as the main enemy. The prime target is defeat of the BJP,� CPM central committee member Suprakash Talukdar told this newspaper.
Talukdar, who is one of the only two members of the CPM central committee from Assam, said that the anti-CAB agitation has the potential to bring about a new political discourse in the State.
�This (CAB) is an issue based upon which we can expand the anti-BJP front. What may be its ultimate political shape will be known only after some time. But we believe that all those parties and organisations who are against the proposed legislation should come forward and join hands,� he said.
The Marxist leader added, �The anti-CAB movement could act as the rallying point for the coming together of all the forces opposed to the BJP.�
He, however, did not specify if that could lead to �electoral� and �seat-sharing� arrangement among such parties.
Asked if the CPM is ready to consider any offer for pre-poll tie-up or understanding with the Congress for the 2021 Assembly polls, Talukdar said, �Let the proposal come first (from the Congress). In Assam, our party is a constituent of the Left Democratic Manch (LDM).�
He, however, added that the CPM has kept open the option of alliance with other non-Left parties who are opposed to the ruling BJP.
The senior CPM leader admitted that it is too early to predict if his party will gain electorally on account of its strong stand against CAB.
Regarding elections to the urban local bodies (ULBs) of Assam, which are scheduled to be held early next year, Talukdar said that CPM is not averse to the idea of contesting the polls jointly with other constituents of the LDM.
It is noteworthy that CPI Assam State unit secretary Munin Mahanta had recently stated that the Congress, as the largest Opposition party, should take the initiative for consolidation of �anti-BJP� forces in Assam ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections.
The CPI and the CPM, the two biggest Left parties, have over the years taken divergent stands on the issue of electoral strategy. However, in recent times, the central leaderships of both the parties have tried to act concertedly in this regard.
