NEW DELHI: There is deep concern in Left circles over the “dismal” performance of the CPI and CPI (M) in the recent Assembly elections, the two parties, which held 10 seats in the four States, managed to win only nine of the 1,085 seats in the five States.
“Today is the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) with its caste appeal which has won the support of the most oppressed sections of society in Uttar Pradesh, tomorrow it will be some other party we must act now before time leaves us behind,” Senior CPI leader A.B Bardhan said on Dec,3.
For the CPI, the recent elections were particularly disturbing, From eight seats in Uttar Pradesh (4), Madhya Pradesh (3) and Himachal Pradesh (1), its presence was redeeed to five this time ~in UP and two in MP. Aver… re though the CPI (M) registered a hundred per cent increase from two seats (1 each in UP and Rajasthan) to four this time (one in each State, barring Delhi), it was scarcely enough to cause jubilation in its ranks. Amidst the poor showing, its candidate Rakesh Singh’s victory in Shimla was a major consolation for the CPI (M) Even as there is. a sense of relief in the Left at the BJP’s failure to secure a majority in any of the four States where it was in office a year ago, some “ominous” signs have cast their shadows on the future of the two major Communist parties in the politically important Hindi region, One factor worrying the Left is the emergence of the BSP as a major force in UP and prospects of its growth in neighboring States in the future. The CPI (M) Politburo which concluded its two day meeting here on Friday and the CPI National Executive meeting began the same evening discussed how their parties could prevent the BSP from emerging as a long-term champion of the cause of the Scheduled Castes. Pointing out that the two Left parties had not even campaigned together to project themselves as a joint force in the recent Assembly, elections, Bardhan held the “defeatist attitude” of the CPI and CPI(M) was responsible for their poor showing in the five States.
The CPI leader said that even though a decision was taken by the two parties at the central level lose up coordination committees eight months ago, “implementing did not take place in the very States which are most in need of coordination.” Apart from the Left Fronts in West Bengal and Kerala, the two Communist parties have coordination committees in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra and are likely to have one soon in Andhra Pradesh. Yet in the region where the two parties have for decades been intending to make their presence felt there has been no coordination, Coupled with concern over the BSP making inroads into what should have been the Left’s base among the economically and socially oppressed sections in Uttar Pradesh, Bardhan and CPI (M) Politburo member Sunil Maltra also expressed apprehension at the BJP’s vote base remaining virtually intact ‘in the recent elections.
“It is matter of concern because the BJP’s influence cuts across Classes and castes, Unless the Left plays a major role in getting a sizeable segment of the BJP’ssupport base away from its communal ideology, the situation will remain ominous,” Bardhan said.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 10, 1993
