Left soul-searching points finger at disunity,cadre arrogance

KERALA

Analysing the election results in Kerala,the CPM central committee rapped the warring stalwarts — state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan — as it admitted that “disunity in the party and the LDF” had led to the drubbing. It admitted that the electoral understanding with the PDP,led by Abdul Nassar Madhani,entered into primarily at the instance of Vijayan,eroded the CPM’s secular credentials. As far as Achuthanandan is concerned,it observed that some of the statements made by the CM during the campaign had an adverse effect and helped the Opposition.

“It may be necessary during elections to get support from different parties,groups and sections of people. But at the same time,we should be careful to ensure that our secular identity does not get blurred by any such maneouvres. We should have avoided having a joint platform with the PDP during the election campaign,” it said. In strong words it said the party should continue its struggle against using caste and communalism for political and electoral gains. “Any weakness in taking such secular positions should be eschewed,” it added.

On differences in the LDF in the context of the acrimony with the CPI over the Ponnani seat and the exit of the JD(S),the central committee said as the major component of the Front,the CPM should have taken steps to avoid such differences at least after the announcement of elections.

It came down heavily on the state unit for making a wrong assessment of the party’s chances after the elections. The state unit had concluded that the LDF would win at least 12-15 seats. “The party has to identify why such wrong estimation was made.” Besides it should be examined whether factionalism has adversely affected the organisational work. The prolonged factionalism had led to various evils flourishing without check,it said.

WEST BENGAL

In West Bengal,the CPM found that “bureaucratic attitude and arrogance” among the party cadre was one of the reasons for the setback. “Alien trends exist in the organisation at different levels. There is a continuing lack of firmness in dealing with those elements who have degenerated,” it said.

On the organisational front,it said even after specifically identifying the weakness of maintaining regular links with the people and class allies after panchayat elections,there was no improvement.

On the government front,it said various tasks identified by the party to set right the class orientation of the government,carrying out industrialisation without affecting agriculture,providing education for all,improving public health,roads,irrigation,flood control,rural electricity and addressing the lacuna in the BPL list and ration cards distribution did not take off. “It cannot be said that our progress has been impressive in these areas. In some,there has been no improvement and in some others,the problems have intensified engendering popular discontent,” it said.

“There has been a lack of consciousness within Cabinet ministers,leadership of the party and the mass organisations,panchayats and municipal bodies on the need for increasing popular initiatives and mass mobilisation and resistance to address the problems faced by the people. Instead,there was increasing dependence on the administration,” it said.

Admitting that land issue associated with the Singur and Nandigram incidents contributed to the erosion of support,the party said the Left Front Government will have to rework the industrialisation strategy.

The alienation amongst some sections of Muslims stem from various factors,including their feeling of being deprived of access to education,jobs and opportunities for advancement.

The party and the Left Front Government must be able to address these issues effectively. “The need for attention and intervention in discussing the problems of the people and taking up demand,which can be realised,has not been followed up properly. The tendency to shift the burden has compounded problems,” it said.