No left turn

In a commentary, People8217;s Democracy says 8220;The UP results are an assertion that the multi-party system is a reality and parliamentary democracy in India cannot...

In a commentary, People8217;s Democracy says 8220;The UP results are an assertion that the multi-party system is a reality and parliamentary democracy in India cannot be constrained into a two-party system.8221; Elsewhere, the party gloats over the fall of the BJP, saying victory in the state would have set the stage for the BJP8217;s comeback at the national level. However, even the BSP does not get much praise, the CPM8217;s assessment of the return of Mayawati being that it is 8220;welcome to the extent8221; that there is now no need to form a government with opportunistic alliances. 8220;Having cynically played the game of caste politics and 8216;social engineering8217;, the BJP learnt8230; that the BSP has proved superior in this sport,8221; it says.

As the weekly says, this is the first time since 1952 that the left has gone unrepresented in the UP assembly; in its opinion, because of growing caste fragmentation.

Art attack

The CPM says that the attack at the MS University in Vadodara and a student8217;s arrest were outrageous. Importantly, says the front page editorial 8216;Stop this vigilantism8217;, the exhibition was part of an internal assessment and not meant for public display. 8220;Nevertheless, even if they were, will the saffron brigade now target the temples at Khajuraho and Konarak for their sexually explicit sculptures?8221; the CPM asks.

The editorial believes the primary motivation behind the attacks is to sharpen communal polarisation for political and electoral gains. And it rests upon the 8220;secular democratic public opinion8221; to oppose this.

Judicious checks

CPM politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai writes in People8217;s Democracy, 8220;The government should show political will and determination to make necessary amendments to the Constitution, including other legislative measures for the constitution of a National Judicial Commission and for asserting the supremacy of the Parliament.8221; He believes that the method of appointment of judges is 8220;defective8221; because it is not open to public scrutiny and lacks accountability. The impeachment provisions are 8220;impractical and unworkable8221; while 8220;even a reasonable criticism8221; of a judgement can be branded as contempt of court under the provisions of the present law.