Yechury, Karat to visit Tripura, CPI(M) mulling change in strategy

From A Correspondent

Agartala, May 9: Amid growing influence of the Bharatiya Jata Party, the CPI(M) in Tripura is considering a change in its electoral strategy before the next assembly election scheduled to be held early next year.

Sources in the party said a special meeting of the party’s state committee will be held to discuss the matter where the party general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his predecessor Prakash Karat are likely to remain present.

Party sources did not confirm the date of the meeting but said it is likely to be held on May 22 and 23. A visit of Mr Yeachury is prescheduled on May 15 to address the open session of 19th state conference of the party’s students wing SFI at Belonia.

The party is considering a change in its strategy especially after the two-day visit of the BJP president Amit Shah who clearly said that the saffron party will go all out to dislodge the CPI(M) that is ruling the state for last 24 years.

It is learnt that the CPI(M) party and the Left Front government is already showing signs of changes in its approach as the state cabinet on Monday decided to change the criteria for getting benefit under various social welfare schemes.

It has decided that, henceforth, families earning less than Rs one lakh annually will be entitled to get benefits under social welfare schemes which were earlier confined only to the BPL families. According to state government estimates this decision will benefit about one lakh families, the fince minister Bhanu Lal Saha said.

It is also learnt that the state government has asked the Pay and Pension Revision Committee to take a liberal view in their recommendations likely to be submitted within a fortnight.

The Left Front government always took a frugal approach in releasing pay and allowances to the state government employees causing serious resentment among them.

In an attempt to take advantage of this the BJP president Amit Shah in a press conference on May 6 said pay and allowances as per the 7th central pay commission will be given to the state government employees in the first meeting of the cabinet if his party comes to power. He also announced that many other schemes will come up for the benefit of other sections of the society. People responded positively over Shah’s visit and announcements forcing the ruling party in the state to think about a change in its approach. (IANS)