THE CPI(M) and the Left fared badly in the Lok Sabha elections. The Party could win only nine seats and polled 3.25 per cent of the votes contesting 93 seats. Apart from this, two independents supported by the Party and the LDF won the election from Kerala. With the CPI winning one seat, the total tally of the Left is only 12. The poor performance of the CPI(M) in the parliament election called for a serious examination. It is based on this critical analysis that proper conclusions could be drawn, on the basis of which a major overhaul of the Party’s political platform and organisation has to be undertaken. The Central Committee of the Party reviewed the Party’s performance in depth in its meeting held on June 7 and 8. There is a decline in the independent strength and mass base of the Party. This is not due to the serious setback in West Bengal alone, but is the result of the failure to advance the Party in the entire country. The responsibility for the failure to advance the Party and its political influence lies with the Polit Bureau and the central leadership of the Party. The CPI(M) and the Left have been consistently opposing the neo-liberal policies pursued by the successive central governments – whether it be the BJP-led or the Congress-led governments. They have been engaged in the struggles of the working people to defend their rights and to stave off the onslaught of these policies. The CPI(M) and the Left have been advocating and campaigning for alternative policies in the economic, social and political spheres. The Left has been the consistent defender of secularism, opposing communal politics and championed the rights of the socially-oppressed. Despite these activities, the election results revealed the failure of the Party and the Left to win the support of the people, in particular, the youth. The Central Committee, in its Review Report, concluded that there is an urgent need to take some major steps to overcome the shortcomings and to end the alienation of the Party from the people. The Central Committee decided to take four major steps to overcome the present situation and to lay the basis for the advance of the Party and the Left and democratic forces. FOUR STEPS 1. Despite the emphasis given in the political-tactical line adopted in successive Party Congresses to increase the independent strength of the Party, we have been unable to do so. Outside the three strong states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, there is no progress in this regard. Without the independent strength of the Party growing, the tactical goal of forging a strong Left and democratic alliance and projecting the Left and democratic alternative will not succeed. The first major step to be taken is to re-examine the political-tactical line we have been pursuing. All aspects of the political line of the Party including the united front tactics we have been adopting need to be critically examined. It is through this process that we can identify any shortcomings or lag in formulating a correct and appropriate political platform and slogans. The Party, normally, undertakes a review of the implementation of the political-tactical line at the time of the Party Congress. But this will not be sufficient at this juncture. We need to make an in-depth examination of the political-tactical line itself and then draw proper conclusions. For this, the Central Committee decided to conduct this re-examination and arrive at conclusions before the Party Congress which is scheduled to be held in April next year. The Review Report containing the results of this re-examination of the political-tactical line will be put for discussion in the entire Party along with the Draft Political Resolution which will contain the fresh political-tactical line to be adopted at the Party Congress. In this manner, there can be a full inner-Party discussion on the fresh political-tactical line to be adopted at the time of the Party Congress. 2. There have been major changes in the socio-economic conditions in the last two and a half decades under the impact of imperialist globalisation, the advent of liberalisation and the pursuit of neo-liberal policies in our country. Changes have occurred in the position of classes and there have been differentiation and changes within classes too. Such changes have occurred within the working class, the peasantry, agricultural workers and the middle classes. Over the years, we have seen how these changes have impacted upon the political and organisational activities. There have been changes in the position and relative strength of the big bourgeoisie and other sections of the bourgeoisie. All these changes have to be taken into account when formulating slogans and while addressing the issues of the sections who are the most affected by the neo-liberal regime. There is a need for a change in the slogans and the approach to the various sections and classes in the context of building a powerful movement against the ruling classes. This requires concrete study of the changes that have occurred in the society and the role and positions of the various classes and strata. Such concrete studies in the various sectors need to be undertaken and it is on the basis of such concrete analysis that we can formulate slogans and demands keeping in mind the strategic goals of the Party. The Central Committee decided that such concrete studies should be undertaken and completed within a timeframe so that they can be utilised in formulating a correct political-tactical line. 3. Along with the political exercise, there is the need to look at the Party organisation, its style of functioning and the orientation of the work among the people. The incapacity of the Party organisation structure to translate the mass struggles and movements into the Party’s political interest is one issue. There is also the problem of organisational atrophy leading to the failure to initiate struggles and develop movements. Stereotyped methods of functioning and the inability to maintain live links with the people are problems. There has to be innovation and the use of new technology in conducting campaigns and communicating with the people. An overhaul of the Party organisation and rectification of wrong trends will have to be undertaken. 4. The development of the mass organisations, the independent functioning and their widest mass mobilization is of utmost importance for the future advance of the Party. The election review conducted by the state committees show that substantial sections of the membership of the mass organisations have not voted for the Party or Left candidates. There are shortcomings in the independent functioning of the class and mass organisations and the political work that needs to be conducted by the Party members amongst the mass of the membership of these organisations. These need to be addressed with all seriousness. All the above four main steps set out are interlinked and need to be taken up together. The Central Committee has called upon the entire Party to realise the gravity of the situation facing the Party and make a collective effort to implement these four steps. NEW SITUATION There is a new political situation after the elections and the formation of the BJP-led government under Narendra Modi. This presages a more aggressive pursuit of neo-liberal policies. Already steps are being taken to address the demands of the big bourgeoisie and international finance capital. Conversely, measures to squeeze the people and their livelihoods are afoot. The policies which fuel inflation and price rise are being continued. The BJP-RSS combine will make efforts to push the Hindutva agenda. The infiltration of the RSS into the institutions of the State will be facilitated. The Hindu extremist elements have begun mounting attacks on the minorities and secular values. The events in Pune and the communal clashes in centres in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Haryana are a warning signal. REVIVAL OF LEFT The CPI(M) and the Left will have to step up resistance to this rightwing offensive and to initiate and organise various struggles of the working people in defence of their rights. The Left is the most consistent force against the communal ideology and politics. It will have to play a key role in rallying and mobilising all the secular, democratic forces in the battle against the pernicious threat of majority communalism. The revival and strengthening of the Left needs urgent attention. The CPI(M) will endeavour to unite with all the Left forces. There should be discussions to draw together all Left-minded forces, groups and intellectuals. Only a unified and reinvigorated Left can take on the challenges posed by the rightward shift in Indian politics.