Q  Why are the Left parties fighting the Bihar elections alone?  Is it not the need of the hour to build a broader secular unity to fight BJP in Bihar?

Hemanandan, Lucknow

A  THE CPI(M) is very conscious of the need to fight the BJP in Bihar and everywhere in the country.  This is essential for the defence of secularism and democratic institutions. It is, however, important to remember that the BJP and its allied organisations of the Sangh Parivar communalise the polity and deepen communal polarisation in all sections of society and, simultaneously, implement policies that are pro-corporate and landlord and viciously anti-poor.  In fact, the BJP has emerged as the most aggressive and single-minded proponent of the neo-liberal agenda.  In order to fight the BJP, therefore, it is necessary to address and oppose not only its communal politics but to mobilise and organise large sections of workers, peasants, dalits, adivasis, women and minorities who are being the hardest hit by its economic policies.  It is only when they come into the movement against the BJP and its policies that this struggle can be effective and successful.

In Bihar, the main political force against the BJP is the JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance.  As far as the Congress is concerned, there is no question of the CPI(M) having any kind of electoral understanding with that Party which is responsible for implementation of neo-liberal policies and which was responsible for the worst scams, corrupt practices and government-sponsored corporate loot of national resources.  In fact, it was the wave of anger and disgust against the UPA government more than anything else that was responsible for the BJP victory in 2014.

We have also had the experience over the last two decades of the regional parties like the RJD and JD(U) who have also defended and implemented the neo-liberal agenda when in government both at the centre and the state levels.  The JD(U), in addition, was part of the NDA government at the centre and led a coalition government with the BJP in the state till recently.  Discontent caused by the anti-people policies of these parties combined with their openly casteist slogans and the patronage and protection that they extend to the criminals and mafia elements is very visible in Bihar and, in the past, has also encouraged the growth of the BJP. They have refused to implement even minimal land reforms which is the most vital issue for the rural poor.

In the 21st Congress of the Party, we made the formulation that to combat communalism and anti-people policies it was necessary to increase the independent strength of our own Party and to strengthen the unity of Left Parties.  It is exactly this that is being done in Bihar.  In the last assembly election too, three Left parties CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML) fought the elections together.

The Left parties had launched a series of united struggles against the anti-farmer policies of the central government, the new Land Acquisition Act that it has been pressing and also against the anti-poor policies of the state government.  These struggles culminated in the successful bandh called by the Left Parties in Bihar on July 21.

It is the Left alliance alone that will campaign on peoples’ issues, for land reforms, against atrocities against dalits and women, for the rights of working people, for strengthening of democracy, for an end to goondaism and against communal and caste divisions.

The Left will go into the election with the call to defeat the BJP and the communal forces, opposing the caste-based parties and their anti-people policies and for strengthening the Left presence in the assembly.               

Q) Why our Party is not arranging the CC and Polit Bureau meetings out of Delhi, especially in North Indian cities, like Jaipur, Bhopal, Shimla , Patna which will help us get more media coverage and our Party members in those places will be more enthusiastic ? 

Q) Why the CPI(M) is not giving special attention to states like Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, where we can gain more, a special campaign with a new slogan like “Red Rajasthan" before the next assembly election?

Q) Why the Party couldn't perform well in the recently concluded local body elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan despite lot of scams against BJP governments?

Shaju P, Trivandrum

i. The Central Committee meetings have been held in various places like Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Agartala, Cochin and Bhubaneswar in the past years. But it has not been held in North Indian cities for quite some time.  As you suggest, this is something which can be thought of.

ii. The Party is giving attention to states like Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh for developing the mass organisations and the Party organisation.  However, it would be premature to give a slogan like “Red Rajasthan” for the next assembly elections. It would be better to call for strengthening the representation of the CPI (M) in the assembly.

iii. In Rajasthan, the Party’s influence and base is mainly in the rural areas. That is why there has been no worthwhile result in the municipal elections.  In Madhya Pradesh , the Party is there in a small way in some of the towns and cities, so it was not possible to make any gains in the urban local bodies.