CPI-M central committee meet begins today, political tactics to be discussed

The central committee will primarily decide whether the party will go on with Congress to tackle the saffron surge in the Left-ruled states and nationally.

But the two factions of the party-led by Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury-are having diverse opinions on the whole issue.

While the Karat lobby feels the party should not make a political understanding with the Congress, Yechury and Bengal faction believes such a possibility is a solution to the threats posed by the BJP, report said.

Though the Kerala poll is far away from now, the Tripura Assembly election is knocking at the door.

The Election Commission of India on Thursday announced the dates for elections to the Assemblies of Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland.

Voting in these three states will take place on February 18 and 27.

Amit Shah-led BJP is eyeing on to clinch the second spot in Tripura and challenge the 20-year old Manik Sarkar government, overtaking opponent forces like the Congress and a weak Trinamool.

At present, the CPI-M is ruling the 60-member Assembly with 49 seats under its belt.

The Left was seen to stitch an alliance with Congress earlier in the West Bengal Assembly election in 2016.

However, the Left-Congress alliance suffered a crushing defeat in the eastern state of India.