The CPI(M) has for the first time admitted that its break with the Congress ahead of the 2009 general elections could possibly have an adverse impact on it in the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal.
Senior CPI(M) politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury, talking about the “negatives” and the sudden reverses for the Left in West Bengal, said in an exclusive interview to this newspaper: “One of the major reasons for these reverses has been the near-completeness of the index of Opposition unity.”
While Mr Yechury went on to claim that the break in ties with the UPA was “inevitable”, it might be recalled that he was away in London in early July 2008 when CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat withdrew support to the Congress-led government over the civil nuclear deal with the United States. This, incidentally, was what had forced the trust vote in the Lok Sabha, which the government had won. Some top CPI(M) leaders had even then tried to persuade Mr Karat not to commit an act of “political and electoral hara-kiri”, sources said.
Asked about the flashpoints and problem areas for the Left in forthcoming West Bengal polls, Mr Yechury said that “all those who were against the Left Front have come together in these elections”. Going on to analyse the situation, Mr Yechury noted that “even in 2006, when we won almost a three-fourths majority, the Left’s percentage of the vote was less than 52 per cent... Therefore nearly 49 per cent of the votes was against the Left even in that election.”
Doing a “reality check”, he went on to add: “As long as it was divided, there was no problem for us. But once (the Opposition) united, it is a problem for us in all the marginal seats.” Trying to balance the party line and the ground reality, Mr Yechury said: “As far as withdrawing support is concerned, we were left with no options... But the fallout has been facilitating the unity between the Congress and the Trinamul Congress.”
Left Front strategists have already sensed that the Congress-Trinamul Congress alliance could well end its 34-year-long uninterrupted rule in West Bengal. A senior party leader from the state who did not wish to be identified claimed that once ousted from West Bengal, “the Left parties, particularly the CPI(M), could become redundant in Indian politics”. Mr Yechury, of course, does not subscribe to such an alarmist view.
Referring to West Bengal, Mr Yechury said the Left, particularly the CPI(M), needed to “get our house in order — which did not look necessary when the Opposition was divided.” He added: “This is an area we have been focusing on for the past one year or so. And it is showing results.” The CPI(M)’s February 23 rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, he said, “was one of the biggest organised by the Left Front at least in recent memory.”
If alarm bells are ringing loudly for the Left in West Bengal, infighting and differences are also taking a heavy toll of the comrades in Kerala. Mr Karat and his close associate Pinari Vijayan, Kerala CPI(M) state secretary (chargesheeted by the CBI in a multi-crore scam), had initially tried to block the candidature of popular chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan. They were forced to climb down following mounting pressure from within the organisation. While a majority of the politburo wanted Mr Achuthanandan to contest the Assembly election, Mr Karat, who was supposed to convey the decision to the state committee meeting in Kerala, reportedly maintained a “tactical silence”. Some senior state party leaders reportedly took on Mr Karat for trying to “mislead” the state committee by “keeping quiet”, a central committee member said.
When asked about this, Mr Yechury said: “You see, there were many of us who strongly felt V.S. Achchuthanandan should contest.” Trying to steer clear of controversy, the CPI(M) leader noted: “The point is that there is only one list that the CPI(M) released, and that list contained (his) name.” Trying to play down differences in the party, Mr Yechury added: “Yes, there was a lot of discussion (before the formal release) and there was a lot of speculation... So a lot of media stories came out.”
Mr Yechury went on to quote the rulebook. “There is a proper procedure that is followed. The state committee discusses the list, sends it down to the district committees and they send their feedback to the state committee. The state committee takes a final call... In the initial stages, whether his name is there or not, is our internal process.”