The CPI(M) Politburo has given its nod to the proposed changes in the party programmes which have been existing since the last 36 years. The decision has been unanimous. The draft of the changes now goes to the central committee meeting scheduled to be held During March 10-13, after which it will be sent to all the party units for discussions. A plenum will ratify the final changes accepted by the party.

The national general secretary of the party, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, said in Calcutta after the conclusion of the three-day Politburo meeting on Sunday that the basic framework of the party programme adopted by the party in 1964 remains unchanged as had been decided at the 1992 party congress in Chennai. The class character of the state and the various other basic revolutionary characteristics of the party remains non-negotiable.Surjeet said that despite whatever the newspapers had had to say over the so-called differences within the Politburo, the decision to update the party programme had been unanimous.

Surjeet said that since 1964, there had been various changes in the international as well as national scenarios which had made it imperative that there be changes to the party programme to make it more consistent with the times. In fact, a commission to go into the changes was set up during the Chennai congress. However, due to subsequent events like recurring elections and other events, the party programme had not been updated. This had been done now, Surjeet said.