The Left has a gameplan

Becoming wise to the Left8217;s strategy, the Congress has put its counter-strategy in place, and this became evident during Sonia Gandhi8217;s speech to the Congress Parliamentary Party last week. Making a virtue of necessity, she decided to take ownership of those measures which were seen to have been taken under pressure from the Left 8212; and thus reinforce the left-of-centre image of the party. So, Manmohan Singh can go ahead with the Indo-US Joint Statement and declare that reforms are irreversible, while Sonia Gandhi gives a left-of-centre spin to what her government is doing. AICC leaders now openly say they will not allow the Left to take credit for the progressive measures being initiated by the government, while the party is left to take the flak for the tough decisions it has to make.

Prakash Karat had described the Indo-US Defence Framework as a sell out. The CPM however has taken a more 8220;nuanced8221; stance on the agreement with the US on civilian nuclear energy, unlike the CPI8217;s more strident line. It is unhappy, not so much about the agreement as about the less than transparent manner in which it has taken place. It has been more critical of the partnership with the US against terrorism, and the idea of exporting democracy to other countries.

One obvious reason for the Left parties8217; increasingly aggressive stance over the last months is the election in West Bengal and Kerala next year. They are signalling to their constituencies that while they support the UPA, they have not compromised on their beliefs. The Left is also positioning itself anew within Indian politics. This is why it is serious about getting a foothold in the Hindi heartland. Given the disarray in the BJP and the internal war inside the Sangh parivar, the Left parties wish to emerge as the real opposition. This is why they are continuing with their barrage of criticism against the government, even as they keep it in power. They led the walk-out in Parliament after the lathi charge on the Honda workers in Gurgaon, and it was Nilotpal Basu and Brinda Karat who were seen at the site within hours 8212; not prominent Congress or BJP leaders.

The CPM has made no secret of the fact that it wants to strengthen their parliamentary performance. This is why it decided to bring in articulate leaders like Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat into Parliament 8212; both of whom will take oath on August 22. The CPM8217;s new assertiveness is also being attributed to its new leadership. Harkishen Singh Surjeet, who was cast in the mould of the old-school politician was not averse to indulging in patronage politics. Manmohan Singh, for instance, found it comfortable to deal with Surjeet. It was Surjeet who had put his weight behind the appointment of Montek Singh Ahluwalia as deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, something the PM had wanted but was not sure he could swing. In contrast, Prakash Karat cut his political teeth during the anti-Congressism of the Emergency era. He is hawkish on ideological issues, more so because he has to consolidate his hold on the party.

But it would be naive to believe that these are the only reasons for the Left8217;s hardening stance towards the UPA. While the Left parties will not do anything that brings the BJP back to power, they are pushing for a larger political space, and are readying themselves for the next round of battle. This time they may not be averse to leading a government comprising the two Yadavs 8212; Mulayam and Laloo 8212; and other regional parties, and compel the Congress to support such a formation, whether in the 14th Lok Sabha, if an opportunity presents itself, or in the next Lok Sabha.