Assets of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) functionaries will be reviewed periodically, and secretaries and general secretaries at all levels, including the party chief, will have a cap of a maximum of nine years in office.

With the CPM central committee opting for the cap and approving the rectification document that includes other course-corrections, the party will be seen addressing concerns arising from its recent poll failures.

“The central committee discussed and adopted a document for initiating a rectification campaign in the party,” said party general secretary Prakash Karat, adding, “to remove wrong trends and shortcomings.”

He also defended the Bengal swap deal — a police officer exchanged for jailed Maoists — saying it was an “appropriate step”. He added that Maoists were “not a threat (to CPM), or part of the Left”.

On the rectification programme, the party will watch the personal assets of leaders and cadre, their proximity to business houses and their conduct. “This is not a purge of bad elements as some would speculate but remoulding the outlook of party members according to Marxist values,” Karat said.