The US Assistant Secretary of State’s remarks would also help the CPM’s West Bengal camp withstand the hardline stand taken by the party’s central leadership on the deal. The state leaders are not in favour of the CPM forcing a general election over the issue.
As a senior Central Committee member said today: “The US itself is urging India to take its time to operationalise the deal. So why the hurry to push the UPA to the wall?”
Sources say Basu took a strong stand against the hardliners at today’s meeting following a detailed phone conversation with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The two discussed Mukherjee’s US visit and his talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
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