NEW DELHI: When the National Council members of the CPI walked down the stairs of Ajoy Bhavan, party’s national headquarters, here last. week, they had taken one of the most momentous decision in the party’s history, Seven decades after the party was formed and four decades after the undivided Communist Party came to power in Kerala, to become the first elected communist government in the world, the CPI decided to join the United Front Government, paving the way for its General Secretary Indrajit Gupta to become the first Communist minister at the Center.

‘Though the council had to resort to voting to arrive at a decision in the end of the two-day session, more than 70% of the members were in favor of joining the government. The national executive council of the party, which met later in the day, decided that Indrajit Gupta should be the party’s first representative in the ministry. Though other names were also discussed, a final decision was not taken on other ministers, as the party was not sure about the number of slots available. 4 ‘After a debate which saw diametrically opposite views on joining the government, the CPI concluded that it cannot shun the responsibility of joining the government. “The participation of the Left parties is villa, both for the functioning of the steering committee and for the work of the UF Government,” said the resolution of the National Council.

Though the longevity of the Congress support was always doubtful, the party thinks, it is no longer capable of immediately pulling down the government as it has done in the past. The CPI feels that the Congress has ‘only Iwo options either to support the BJP or face an immediate election, both alternates are suicidal to it.

‘The panty thinks that it can initiate measures which can have long-lasting impact on the national scene although it will have to compromise on many issues, “Everything does not depend on history. Things move on,” said CPI Deputy General Secretary A.B, Bardhan.

‘The party realizes that the Big Brother CPI (M) will not be too happy with its Left Front partner surrendering to a national parliamentary temptation.

But it doesn’t seem to care at the moment.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 5, 1996