CPM revives third force formula

NEW DELHI, JULY 27: The Communist party of India Marxist has revived its 1996 formula of a third alternative'' to the Congress and th...

NEW DELHI, JULY 27: The Communist party of India Marxist has revived its 1996 formula of a 8220;third alternative8221; to the Congress and the BJP, by suggesting the formation of a broad front of 8220;left, democratic and secular8221; forces. The immediate strategy of the CPM, the dominant party of the Left Front, would be to work for cooperation with all 8220;secular8221; parties to isolate the BJP. But while deciding to train its guns more aggressively on the BJP, the CPM is not yet ready for an immediate alliance with the Congress.

In the aftermath of the 1996 elections, when it was evident that no single party would be in a position to form the government, the Left had proposed the formation of the United Front with the Congress extending support from the outside.

8220;There is no question of an alliance with the Congress with its present policies. But the Left parties must make efforts to reach out to the mass supporters of the Congress who are committed to the secular values of the country,8221; CPM general secretaryHarkishan Singh Surjeet said today.Surjeet was releasing the CPM8217;s draft political resolution which is to be adopted by the 16th party congress scheduled to be held in Calcutta. The resolution has been circulated to the party units for discussion at all levels of the party heirarchy and to invite amendments between now and the October 5 congress.

Asserting that the 1996 formula had not been given up where the Congress extended support from outside government to the United Front, Surjeet however cautioned 8220;we8217;ll see when such a situation arises. We are not ruling out any options now8221;.

But the intractable differences with the Congress over the economic agenda remain. The party is categorical that while combining with the Congress, it will not neglect its objective of safeguarding the economic sovereignty of the country.

8220;The Left will go on fighting against communal forces but also agitate against economic liberalisation which has proved disastrous for the country,8221; Surjeet said.

The key prioritiesidentified by the party leadership are a strengthening of Left unity and to consolidate and carry forward the common agenda of the Left parties through a process of joint political campaigns and organisational coordination.

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Highlighting the twin dangers of communalism and economic liberalisation which were being promoted by the BJP, Surjeet said the BJP, no less than the Congress, was going ahead with the same agenda of opening up core sectors of the economy. The compromises made by the BJP to make India conform to the dictates of the World Bank and the IMF, were being camouflaged under the garb of jingoism.

But the CPM8217;s hopes of forging any kind of understanding with the Congress to meet the larger objective of challenging the BJP will have to be made palatable to the party8217;s cadres in the three states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. In these three CPM ruled states, the Congress represents the primary enemy. It will be a tall order for the party leadership to convince the party rank and file,engaged in deadly street battles with Congress workers, to adopt a 8220;forgive and forget8221; policy in the interests of the party8217;s national agenda.