We'll check out CMP before signing: CPM

NEW DELHI: After Manmohan Singh prepares the draft common minimum programme in a couple of days, it would be circulated among the Left parties for their inputs.
The Left would consider signing it only after seeing the final version, CPM leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet said.
He was non-committal on the issue of being part of any coordination mechanism.CPM politburo member Prakash Karat said this could be decided only after seeing the CMP.
Many leaders feel there''s no point in being part of the CMP drafting and coordination committees as by remaining outside, the Left wouldn''t be able to implement its agenda in the government.
The primary reason why CPM has decided to stay out of the government is not to get associated with Congress and not to grant the opposition space to the BJP.
This being the overriding concern, CPM may think twice before joining the coordination mechanism of the Congress-led alliance. At the same time, by remaining outside the government, the Left would use every opportunity to further its agenda.
The Left parties'' decision to stay out was largely guided by CPM because CPI had announced on Monday morning that though it wanted to join the government, it would abide by CPM''s decision.
This was a clear case of "pressure tactics" as the earlier understanding was that both the parties would announce a joint decision and CPI knew well that CPM is not keen to participate in the government.
Also, the CPI announced a sub-committee to prepare the CMP when the CPM is in no hurry to formalise any consultative mechanism with Congress.
But CPM did not succumb to the pressure from its ideological ally and by Monday afternoon, its Central Committee arrived at its decision with an overwhelming majority against Congress'' invitation.
According to sources, there was no real voting to clinch the issue, but a mere raising of hands by the CC members. The number of members in favour of joining was so few that the raised hands were not counted.