COIMBATORE: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Tuesday called the Congress party a lesser evil than the "communal" Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but said it would still not have any electoral tie up with it.

In a political resolution passed unanimously at the 19th party congress here, the CPI-M said: "The party differentiates between the BJP and the Congress, considering the latter as a secular bourgeois party, though it often vacillates when the communal forces take offensive."

It added: "The party will continue to adopt tactics for isolating and defeating the BJP."

But the CPI-M, one of four Left parties providing key legislative support to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, insisted: "It will not enter into any alliance or united front with the Congress."

Party politburo member S. Ramachandra Pillai, who briefed the media on the third day of the party meeting, took pains to explain the CPI-M's approach to the Congress, which heads India's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

According to him, although CPI-M is a part of the fronts in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh that include the Congress, the Marxists had no direct alliance with it.

However, he later admitted that the party did not rule out entering into "seat adjustments" with the Congress to defeat "communal forces".

In the political resolution, after 46 of the 304 amendments suggested by the 722 delegates were adopted, the CPI-M has vowed to develop its "independent strength and expand its political base."

"This party must take class and mass issues to develop movements and struggles. This is crucial for strengthening the Left and democratic forces," it said.

The CPI-M also pledged to maintain relations with all non-Congress secular parties for developing united struggles and joint actions on common issues. "The building of a third alternative must be undertaken."

The congress asked the CPI-M leadership to take initiatives for this and also to strengthen Left unity to facilitate the task.

The CPI-M is also vowed to resist neo-liberal policies, oppose "US imperialistic designs" to convert India into a strategic ally.

Although party membership has increased (by 114,392), Pillai admitted that there have been dropouts due to various reasons.

"But if it is because of the shortcomings and defects, we are trying to correct them," he said.

Source : IANS