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Journalism of Courage
Rubbing salt into the CPM8217;s wounds,the CPI after reviewing the election results has concluded that the big brother8217;s 8220;unilateral8221; style of functioning in Kerala and West Bengal was a reason for the Left8217;s downfall. This attitude should end and the relationship among Left parties should be based on 8220;equality8221;,it felt.
The CPI also differed with the CPM on the timing and the issue chosen to withdraw support to the UPA. Contrary to the CPM8217;s view that breaking ties with the Congress on the nuclear deal was 8220;correct8221;,the CPI National Executive has taken a view that the pullout should have been on 8220;livelihood8221; issues and done much earlier.
The veteran did not mince words in training his guns at the CPM. Asked whether he was referring to the CPM by saying there was 8220;unilateralism8221; in the Left Front,he said 8220;whoever is the largest party,it is its responsibility to ensure that the front is run properly8221;.
8220;We have been seeing and witnessing it. There is no hiding it. It is true. The Left Front is a front of all Left parties. It has to be run collectively. It is obvious that it is not the RSP or the Forward Bloc,which is responsible for this for running the front. Nor is the CPI,8221; he said.
Bardhan8217;s posturing against the CPM stems from the fact that after the rout he came under immense fire from his party colleagues from Bengal and Kerala for playing second fiddle to his CPM counterpart Prakash Karat. They had argued that the CPI failed to assert its individual existence and has been relegated as a 8216;B8217; team of the CPM.
The CPI veteran said in future the relationship in the Left Front will be based on 8220;equality8221;. There will be 8220;mutual discussion and mutual respect and collective discussions on all important issues,8221; he said. Identifying the factors that led to the defeat in Kerala and Bengal,he said the approach of the Left Front governments to the people cannot be called as 8220;Communist approach8221; as the people in authority practised 8220;bossism8221; which alienated the people.
