T’puram: CPM general secretary M A Baby backed opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan’s assessment that some party workers were responsible for CPM’s recent setback in assembly polls, saying certain workers had deviated from the party line. Addressing reporters in Delhi on Sunday, he said party workers should not vote against CPM under any circumstances as they had a responsibility to ensure the victory of CPM candidates. Those who deviated from CPM’s position should correct their mistakes, he said.Baby said grievances should have been raised within CPM rather than acted upon against the party. He acknowledged that there were lapses on the part of the leadership. “These factors led to the defeat,” he said, adding that party decisions should take precedence over everything else for every CPM worker.‘Party undergoing treatment’Baby also criticised those at the higher levels of party hierarchy, saying they were not completely free from parliamentary obsession. Nine politburo members will participate in the extended state committee meeting, where they will examine whether the assessments emerging from the discussions are objective.He said CPM was undergoing an ‘internal treatment’ to identify and correct its shortcomings. Leaders and cadres were attempting to correct each other as part of this process, he said. Baby said corrective steps were being undertaken in the wake of poll setbacks in different states and addressing CPM’s weaknesses would be the main focus of the extended meeting.Baby said the politburo had discussed parliamentary obsession, the need for collective functioning and the importance of working in accordance with the wishes of the people. He said the politburo had undertaken a self-critical assessment of these issues, adding that party functionaries were asked to maintain contact with the people and understand their concerns. The central committee will meet from Oct 9 to 11, he said.Did not rule out leadership changesBaby said corrective measures would be undertaken within CPM but rejected the discussion on leadership change as an agenda promoted by the media. He endorsed Vijayan’s assessment that some party workers had committed mistakes and CPM would examine whether the party’s own positions had contributed to such developments.He said the corrective process would be continuous and that changes would be made wherever necessary. The people had adopted a critical attitude towards the party, he said, acknowledging that certain developments within CPM had created circumstances that could lead to misunderstandings about the party.
