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Journalism of Courage
When we termed Badruddin Ajmal8217;s Assam United Democratic Front AUDF a 8216;Frankenstein8217; not so long ago, we never imagined that it would replicate itself so quickly in the country8217;s largest state. The emergence of the Peoples8217; Democratic Front PDF in Uttar Pradesh, sponsored by a variety of Islamic clerics, cannot but be perceived as a disquieting development in a state that has suffered the worst consequences of communal polarisation over the years.
But the emergence of outfits catering to singular religious identities should surprise no one, considering the unfortunate legacy of major parties like the Congress and the BJP, which have consciously carved out spheres of influence based on religious identity. Worse, Left parties 8212; which always swore by the secular label 8212; have also emerged as successful practitioners of such cynical strategies, as was evident in the recent assembly elections. The United Left Front8217;s electoral triumph in those constituencies in Kerala, which had hitherto steadfastly voted for the Muslim League, indicates more than a mere shift in the mood of voters. It reveals a change in Left politics. By making deals with fundamentalist outfits like the Jamaat-e-Islami, which had a few years ago been termed 8216;extremist8217; by the Left8217;s own government in the state; by highlighting emotive issues like Iraq and Iran in its campaigns in Muslim-dominated constituencies, the CPIM has announced its arrival in the big league of minority votebank politics.
