Indians have again done themselves proud by 'mature voting' and giving a clear mandate in the recently concluded Elections, the biggest democratic process in the world. In todays unpredictive world specifically in South Asia where she is surrounded by volatile neighbours, India has shown the world the true meaning of 'by the people, for the people and of the people'.
In this 'election cyclone' along with the caste and communal politics, the communists also fell. They were routed in the red fortresses of Kerala, and its own Bastion in Bengal. What has happened since late Harkishan singh Surjeet handed over Party's mantle to the so called young 'Karats' and 'Yachuris'? How come from a tally of about 59 seats in 2004 they came down to a mere 24 in 2009?
A lot of questions to be answered by the official leadership of all left parties, though it is generally felt that the attitude of the so called 'young brigades' that were much more theoritical and inflexible led to this huge defeat. The National left front leaders forgot the key lesson in politics ie to have your house in order before you attack the UPA with matters like Nuclear pact; the left specifically CPM totally turned blind eye to the deepening crises in both Kerala and Bengal. The 'new breed of young' CPM leaders rather than being pragmatic and dynamic went for the rigid communist policies. They lost touch with common man and were more involved and infatuated with the outdated anti- imperialism.
Interestingly a lot of policies that paid rich dividends to the UPA govt are 'left' policies. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the National Old Age Pension Scheme, National Maternity Benefit Scheme, Mid-Day Meal and Integrated Children Development Scheme, the Targeted Public Distribution Scheme, National Family Benefit Scheme, Right to Information, Forest Rights Act, farm loan waiver etc. The left never made any attempt to high light this in their campaign and instead went after the blind propaganda of an 'unreal' third front based on an anti- left, anti BJP platform. The common people soon understood the stand taken by the third/ fourth front that they were trying to get as many seats as possible to be in a good bargaining post-poll position; but alas all their dreams were shattered by the convincing outcome of 2009 elections!
In Kerala it was clear that people were fed up with the infighting between the two major factions in the ruling CPM. The present leadership in Kerala were totally egoistic, autocratic, arrogant and aggressive against anyone who they felt were not supporting them. It is sad to note that the party which was once led by the legendary leaders like AKG and EMS are now in hands of a bunch of 'pseudo-comrades'. One person who came out relatively unharmed in this whole debacle is the Kerala Cheif minister Mr VS Achuthanandan.
The common man who supports the communist party is not unhappy with this defeat. In fact one of the Kannur comrades told me it was a 'good shock treatment' given by the people of kerala to a party which is a part of their life. May be this statement reflects the general feeling of the party supporters in the state.
There will be a lot of 'post-mortem' meetings and analysis of this whole result scenario. Though it is clear that the 'SNC lavlin case', the marriage of conveneince with PDP, the aggressive stance take by the CPM against the smaller parties in LDF, alienation of general public and anti-media stance were the main resons in the party's failing, the leadership may take some other 'vague' explaination line and get away this time. But its better to accept the mistakes, make necessary changes and attitude by a clear introspection...the sooner the party realise and correct this the better it is for Kerala....
About Me
- PCV
- London, Leicester and Kerala
- I am a Medical Doctor, born and brought up in Kerala, settled in England for last 27 years. Interested in almost any and every field under the sun. I believe in 'Simple living and simple thinking'and try to follow this principle in life...This is a snapshot of what I wish to write; but many of the things I want to write are still under the iceberg! Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu
4 comments:
I thought communism is always about creating poverty. Development is their biggest foe. This election reaffirms 2 things 1. Development 2. Youth. Concept like anti-incumbency has no place in the modern politics; development is the new mantra as people are more aware of surroundings though media. Hence I do not think there is much left for Left parties in the days to come.
I am sure 2011 will the biggest year in Left’s calendar where they are going to be wiped out from India’s political map when both Kerala and West Bengal go to polls!!
It is difficult to say that Communists will be wiped out in India especially in Kerala and Bengal. There is little doubt that CPM is the predominant political power in Kerala and will remain so in the near future. I do believe that development has to given priority and slowly (like many times previously, there is a lag period of at least quarter of a century for the 'Indian Communists'), CPM is realising this fact.....Also, about 70% of Indian population is less than 35 years of age and I am pretty convinced that next couple of decades will be India's and sooner all parties will have to forget their stubborn ideologies and come to a common platform for India's vibrant economy and development.
The CPM state secretary after the 3 day state committee today has said that the breach of Leninist principles of party organisation had generated disgust among supporters of the party and ultimately led to its defeat. The whole summary of his statement as published in The Hindu online edition (May 29 2009).....Interesting.....
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) State committee has concluded that the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a major setback in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections on account of disunity within the party and the LDF, the hostile stand taken by the Christian community and the Opposition United Democratic Front’s negative campaign about the LDF’s tie-up with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Briefing reporters about the deliberations of the three-day CPI(M) State committee meeting, which concluded here on Thursday, Mr. Vijayan said the breach of Leninist principles of party organisation (the two major components of which are democratic centralism and acceptance of the majority view by the minority) had generated disgust among supporters of the party and the masses. This prevented the party from effectively countering the UDF’s false propaganda. Simultaneously, controversies relating to the government created obstacles to the efforts to reach out to the people with information about the achievements of the government, he added.
Lavalin controversy
The UDF, he said, had also misused the Lavalin controversy. The media were unusually hostile and had celebrated the Lavalin controversy. The UDF had mounted a campaign over the issue and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated prosecution measures with political motives. Besides the disunity in the party, the disputes in the LDF also caused disgust in the minds of the people. Although the differences with the CPI could be resolved, a section of the Janata Dal (Secular) aligned with the UDF. The sections that opposed this move stood by the LDF. They would continue to be with the LDF, Mr. Vijayan said.
The CPI(M) State secretary said the party had reached the assessment at the very outset that the LDF would not get majority seats in the elections. The ‘Nava Kerala March’ did create a new confidence about the prospects of the party and the alliance and helped in drawing several sections closer to the party, but the election results showed that these efforts were not effective enough.
PDP issue
The UDF also succeeded in kicking up a controversy over the LDF’s tie-up with the PDP. The PDP was not a constituent of the LDF and its support for the LDF was not conditional. It had supported the LDF on account of its affinity towards the LDF’s policies. The UDF and other anti-LDF forces opposed it because they knew that the tie-up would help the ruling alliance. Their strategy was to accuse the PDP of extremist links and undermine its credibility. This was done only to cover up the extremist links of the Popular Front of India which supported the UDF.
The Christian community’s hostility towards the LDF was reminiscent of its attitude during the ‘Liberation Struggle’ days. The party would intensify its efforts to increase its influence among the minority communities and allay the misgivings among the Christian minorities. Steps would also be taken to cement the relationship among LDF constituents. That the party and the LDF failed in assessing the setbacks at the time of the campaign was a major shortcoming. This would be viewed self-critically and more importance would be given to ideological education, Mr. Vijayan said.
Communists could still survive in Kerala and W Bengal if their willing to change according to the need of the times without sacrificing their core values.
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