Various opinions within party only natural: Yechury

New Delhi: Senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Monday sought to brush aside differences with the official political-tactical line moved by General Secretary Prakash Karat, saying such things were "natural" in a democratic party.

"It's only natural and a party with a vibrant inner party democracy like ours, that various opinions come... This is not the first time it has happened in our party, it has happened in the past, it shall hopefully happen in the future also, as it is the life of the party," he said.

His comments came days after differences came to fore within the CPI(M) leadership over the reasons that led to its decline and the ways to rejuvenate its organisation and overcome political isolation.

The party's Central Committee asked the top leaders in the Politburo to give a fresh draft on the political-tactical line after Yechury and some others placed separate notes to express their differences with the official line.

Asked whether he was concerned over the "huge majority" being enjoyed by the BJP and there was no real political opposition, Yechury said, "Of course, it is a matter of concern," but quickly added that India's political history has seen large parties enjoying such massive majority in Parliament earlier too.

"You also had mighty Prime Ministers who were themselves defeated but returned in three years," Yechury said, apparently indicating to Indira Gandhi.

Observing that the Indian people had become "more mature" which was a good thing, he said, "You will see a shift in our political scenario sooner than later and the Left will be an important player."

Asked about the political situation in West Bengal, the CPI(M) leader said it was a matter of concern that the people's disenchantment with the ruling Trinamool Congress was being weaned away by the BJP.

However, "we are putting in place corrections" to stem this trend, he said, adding that a major factor in the decline of the CPI(M) strength in the state was the "large-scale violence and politics of terror" unleashed by TMC against the Left with hundreds being killed and thousands of supporters forced to flee from their hearths and homes.