By: Express News Service Kolkata | February 25, 2025 05:28 IST 1 min readCPIM state secretary Mohammed Salim (Wikipedia)The party has to be made stronger while ensuring greater unity of the Leftist forces in the state to safeguard the interest of the people of West Bengal, CPIM state secretary Mohammed Salim on Monday said.Addressing a press conference at Dankuni, on the sidelines of the party’s four-day state conference, Salim, also a member of the party’s politburo, said all the anti-Trinamool and anti-BJP forces have to be brought together to fight them. The TMC and BJP were trying to divide the people of Bengal on religious lines, he alleged. On the party’s conference, he said deliberations were held on present-day challenges in the state’s politics, people’s problems, jobs and education.Also, questions were raised within the party if Salim will continue as state secretary or not. There were also speculations over him being given central charge in New Delhi. But even as the central leadership wants a bigger role for Salim, a section of state CPIM leaders is not ready to accept this decision, it is learnt.© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd