Targeting party leadership cannot be a way out: CPI(M)

Mishra's comments were seen as an indirect acknowledgement of the voices of dissent brewing both inside and outside the party against the present leadership since its dismal show in the Lok Sabha polls, which they have denied.

For the first time in the history of the CPI(M) since its formation in 1964 after breaking away from CPI, a rally was organised outside the Alimuddin Street party headquarters yesterday by some present and expelled leaders, who questioned the party's top brass and demanded an immediate change in party leadership in order to save it from being wiped out from state politics.

During his speech at a party meeting Mishra also tried to clarify the allegations that party leaders were not visiting fellow comrades in districts when they were attacked.

"Some people are misunderstanding us. Whenever there has been an attack we wanted to visit the spot. But in certain situations we were asked not to visit by the victims only as they apprehended they might be attacked again if we visited," he said.