Left divided over going with Maya

The Left may have decided to launch a joint campaign with the BSP and the UNPA against the UPA Government...

The Left may have decided to launch a joint campaign with the BSP and the UNPA against the UPA Government, but there is a growing sense of uneasiness in the bloc with the smaller parties feeling wary of the newfound friendship with Mayawati.

Though talks of the Left entering into any sort of electoral understanding with the BSP and parties of the United National Progressive Alliance for the next Lok Sabha polls may be in the realm of speculation, parties like the RSP and Forward Bloc seem not too enthusiastic about such an arrangement.

Initially upset with big brother CPIM for not taking it into confidence before Prakash Karat8217;s July 13 meeting with Mayawati, the RSP is also unhappy with CPI general secretary A B Bardhan8217;s open talks about Mayawati being a fit candidate for the post of Prime Minister.

8220;It is too early for such talks. The present arrangement is limited to a joint campaign on issues like inflation and the Indo-US nuclear deal; such talks will only complicate matters,8221; a senior Left leader said.

While the CPIM and the CPI are apparently in favour of exploring the options of joining hands with secular parties who are not aligned either with the BJP or the Congress, RSP and the Forward Bloc feel stress should be laid on greater Left unity first given the fickle nature of regional parties.

8220;The Left front concept is at present limited to Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal. The arrangement should first be extended to other states where we have some presence,8221; a senior Left leader said while questioning the wisdom of joining hands with Mayawati.

A section of the CPIM and leaders of the RSP and Forward Bloc also argue that alliances with regional parties for electoral gains will have long-term implications as it would not help the Left in its efforts to make inroads into states where they are weak, particularly the Hindi heartland.

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8220;The idea of a third force or third alternative to counter the BJP and the Congress may be a good election idea. But unless and until there is a united Left force, efforts to strengthen our respective party organisations in other states will not go a long way,8221; RSP leader Abani Roy told The Indian Express.

Moreover, some leaders feel the alliance with parties like the BSP may become a baggage, as the Left will have to sacrifice its position on certain issues. One Left leader pointed out that neither the CPIM nor the CPI openly condemned the recent police firing on agitating farmers in Greater Noida. The Left even had to speak out against the CBI lodging cases against Mayawati in a disproportionate assets case.

8220;The question is about credibility. We should not be seen as desperate for allies and compromising our policy positions. We should be condemning police excesses,8221; a senior Left leader said.

Though neither the CPIM nor the CPI has commented on AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa8217;s recent statement that she was open to a tie-up with the Left, the smaller Left parties are skeptical on this count as well.