CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat’s style of politics is turning into an enigma for party leaders and the cadre. As the party’s position in both West Bengal and Kerala continues to weaken and the Left parties are pushed further into isolation over the nuclear liability bill, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat is busy discussing “world peace and international crises, economic and financial”, and other global issues with the Communist Party of Japan in Tokyo.
Incidentally, some Kashmir leaders were also looking for Mr Karat after his “fiery speeches” in the Valley and comments that his party was “really concerned about the developments” there.
A party functionary pointed out that as the CPI(M) grows isolated over the nuclear liability bill and Congress rallying around the Opposition, “our leader was on his way to Japan to discuss world problems”. Some top Kashmiri leaders also began asking his party colleagues about Mr Karat’s whereabouts “since they wanted to discuss Kashmir” with him. Mr Karat left for Japan on August 26 and is expected back on August 31. He is accompanied by CPI(M) central committee member P.M. S. Grewal. Mr Karat, invited by the Japanese Communist Party, will meet leaders to discuss “world peace, the world situation, and how to work for the common people of Japan and India”.
Many Marxists now feel that the CPI(M), which once had the “power to control national politics and dictate terms, is now going through its weakest phase under the existing leadership”. While these leaders feel the next central committee should focus on ways to strengthen the party with elections approaching in West Bengal and Kerala, Mr Karat has reportedly promised that the next central committee would be “devoted to Kashmir”. The CPI(M) general secretary, who has organisational trouble brewing both in Bengal and Kerala, intends to come out with a party “approach paper” on Kashmir during the next CC meet.
Sources also disclosed that Mr Karat was also lobbying party leaders and the cadre to continue as party general secretary. The CPI(M) Party Congress is to be held after the Bengal elections to decide Mr Karat’s fate.