NEW DELHI: One of India’s two main communist groups decided recently to join India’s Centre left coalition government, giving them their first taste of power at the federal level since independence from Britain in 1947.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) decided to join the 13party United Front government headed by Prime Minister Deve Gowda, senior party leader A.B.Bardhan told a news conference. The party’s national council decided after a debate to join the coalition of regional, socialist and centrist groups, he said.
No major ideological shift is expected in the government as a result of communist participation, politicians say. Deve Gowda has signaled he will go ahead with free market policies that he is known to favor. The Communist Pan of India Marxist (CPIM), the other main communist group decided last month not to take part in the government. Both communist groups are part of a larger Left Front coalition that rules three Indian states.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 12, 1996
