By NNN-PTI,
Kochi, India : The Central Committee meeting of the CPI(M) began here this morning to work out the party’s strategies for the coming Lok Sabha (Lower House) polls and plans to form a third front.
Central committee members, including Party General secretary Prakash Karat, politburo members Sitaram Yechury, Brinda Karat, Kerala Chief Minister V S Achutanandan, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar are among those attending the three-day meeting, being held in Kerala state after a gap of 41 years.
Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu is not participating in the meeting.
Prior to the meeting, a separate meeting of party’s Polit Buro was also held this morning, party sources said.
After attending the Polit Buro meeting, Achutanandan left for Ezhimala Naval Academy, which will be dedicated to the nation today by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Kannur.
The central committee is expected to focus on the party’s preparations for the Lok Sabha (Lower House) elections and the states’ specific alliances that are now in the making.
In connection with the meeting, two rallies will be held. While party workers are holding a rally at Alapuzha this evening, which will be attended among others by Chief Ministers of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. Another rally will be organised at Kochi tomorrow.