Vijayawada, Aug 7 (IANS): Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Saturday asked the party-led governments in West Bengal and Kerala to do their "utmost" to regain the lost faith of the people.

Inaugurating the extended central committee meeting of the party here, Karat said the CPI-M has carefully looked into the causes of the poll reversals it suffered in West Bengal and Kerala and "identified the steps to be taken to remedy the situation".

"We should do our utmost so that people of West Bengal and Kerala renew their faith in the party and the Left-led alliances there," he said.

The CPI-M convened its extended central committee meeting to take stock of the political situation in the country and chalk out a political line which can help the party to tackle the current situation and meet the various challenges that the party is facing.

He said the three Left-led governments of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura have always striven to put in place pro-people policies.

"It is these three governments which have implemented land reform to the maximum in the country. It is these three governments which have sought to expand the areas of relief and welfare for the unemployed and the poor. All three governments have introduced urban employment guarantee schemes within the constraints of resources.

"It is these three governments which have adhered firmly to the secular principle and given no quarter to the communal forces. The defence of the Left-led governments is an important task for all the Left and democratic forces in the country," Karat said.

He said in the present dismal scene in the country only the CPI-M and the Left present a "real alternative - an alternative in terms of the path of development and in terms of policies."