As the CPI and CPI(M) prepare for their respective party Congresses next month, both have their eyes riveted on Venezuela. Specifically, President Hugo Chavez, since both want him to attend their party meetings.If he decides to come, Chavez faces a tough choice. The CPI Congress is scheduled in Hyderabad from March 23 to 27 and the CPI(M) is meeting in Coimbatore from March 29 to April 3. Since the Venezuelan President is unlikely to oblige both the Left parties given the timing and duration of their party Congresses, leaders of the two parties are keeping their fingers crossed.“Let us see what happens,” CPI national secretary D Raja said when asked about the CPI’s invitation to Chavez. Chavez would add sting and colour to the events, which are set to be dominated by anti-Americanism. The draft political resolution to be taken up at the CPI(M) Congress is replete with anti-US references, talking about America’s “hegemonic drive”, “imperialist-driven globalisation”, and “US imperialism” in West Asia.It notes how the Left has made further advances in Latin America. “Since the last party Congress, apart from electoral victories in Brazil and Venezuela, the Left registered success in Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador. Both in Venezuela and Bolivia, the road to progressive transformation in a democratic manner is being opposed vehemently by reactionary forces,” says the CPI(M) resolution. Chavez’s tirades against the US have apparently made him very popular among the Indian Left. He had also won the hearts of the CPI(M) leadership during his visit to Kolkata in March 2005. “We have sent invitation to 32 Communist parties in different countries. We always invite fraternal parties from across the world. We do not know who will be sent as representatives by their respective parties to our party Congress. But it would certainly be good if Chavez comes,” said a senior CPI(M) leader.Why the Left would like to host Chavez• President of Venezuela, Chavez is known for his anti-US foreign policy. He is seeking a defence pact with other Latin American states against "aggression" from the United States. He once called US President George Bush "the devil" in a UN speech.Why Chavez may say yes• India, as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, needs to diversify its sources of energy. Venezuela, as one the world's largest producers of oil, is looking to develop markets in Asia in order to reduce its dependence on the United States, its biggest customer.Anyways, he always make newsNamed one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2005 and 2006, Chavez was recently in the news for rubbing the Spanish King the wrong way. Juan Carlos asked Hugo Chavez to “shut up” at a summit in Chile after the President called Spain's ex-PM Jose Maria Aznar a “fascist”. The king's outburst become a ringtone hit across Spain. An estimated 5 lakh people downloaded the insult, featuring the words "Why don't you shut up?", generating a reported 1.5m euros.
