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CPI(M) seeks regional parties' support to shun Congress
by Gautam Ghosh

     Kolkata: The CPI(M) is trying to gradually move away from its current association with the Congress, its one-time political enemy, with an eye on the possible realignment of regional parties to form an alternative power block at the Centre in the near future. The Marxists have thus been making conscious efforts to electoral alliances with the regional forces in different states with this end in view. The aim is to strengthen the party's support bases and at the same time pave the way for the formation of a non-BJP, non-Congress front to capture the seat of power in Delhi. The Marxists are currently engaged in an exercise to improve their relationship with some non-Congress partners of the UPA. The CPI(M)'s new political line is expected to take a concrete shap in the coming party congress.

      The strategy was informally discussed at the recently held meeting of the CPI(M)'s central committee here. It was decided that the proposed line would be taken up by the politburo before its formal endorsement at the party congress. According to informed sources, the CPI(M) is anxious to overcome the political stigma of being "a Congress stooge" in view of the latter's "anti-people economic agenda." Aware of the Congress' successful exploitation of their anti-BJP stand, the Marxists may ultimately revive their policy of maintaining equidistance from the two parties in the event of the Manmohan Singh government turning a blind eye to their pleas on major economic issues.

     Elaborating the party's proposed new line, a CPI(M) politburo member said, "We know the Congress-led government at the Centre will not fully implement the UPA's Common Minimum Programme(CMP) because of its class origin and class interests. But there are a few UPA partners which once fought against the autocratic policies of the Congress. These parties are essentially regional outfits which will also not support the Congress' anti-people policies in the long run. We have, therefore, decided to keep our options open and be ready to join hands with them to form an alternative." The CPI(M) believes that the Congress' "autocratic tendencies" will gain momentum with its failure to implement the CMP. "We will continue to exert pressure on the Centre for the CMP's implementation without any regard for political consequences. There is every possibility of the Congress ignoring our protests. Hence the best option for us in the circumstances is to strengthen our party's ties with other UPA constituents and strive for a national alternative through a joint movement," observed a senior central committee member.

      The CPI(M)'s current efforts to enter into seat adjustments with parties like the RJD, NCP and JMM instead of seeking a pact with the Congress for the coming Assembly polls in Bihar and Jharkhand are indicative of the party's new thinking. The CPI(M) has also made up its mind to oppose the Congress in the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and Tamil Nadu scheduled for next year. A section of the central committee members feels there has been a qualitative change in the political situation after the Lok Sabha polls when the common goal of the Congress and the CPI(M) was to remove the BJP from power. The two parties had even joined hands in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls to defeat Chandrababu Naidu- led Telugu Desham party, a BJP ally. However, with the BJP's diminishing political clout in different states the Congress is trying to re-assert itself at the cost of its alliance partners. This, the CPI(M) feels, is the main reason for the Congress' unwillingness to reach a seat-sharing deal with the RJD in Bihar and Jharkhand.

     The CPI(M)'s last party congress, held in Hyderabad, was mainly concerned over "the danger of communalism posed by the BJP" with the NDA in power at the Centre. A resolution, adopted at the Hyderabad congress, had underscored the need for "coordination between the Congress and left forces to resist the non-secular and undemocratic policies of the NDA government." It called for "greater coordination among the non-BJP parties inside and outside the Parliament on issues like Pota, Ram temple and communalism." The Congress' economic policies constitute the main hurdle to the maintenance and improvement of its bilateral ties with the left parties, particularly the CPI(M). Despite periodic assurances from the Prime Minister and union finance minister P. Chidambaram on the CMP's implementation, the Congress has been firmly going ahead with its agenda. The latest instance of the Centre's tendency to ignore the left parties' objections about economic issues is its decision to discard Press Note-18--a move which is expected to benefit the foreign investors against the interest of indigenous industries. The Centre's decision, which was announced shortly after the Prime Minister's visit to the city, has evoked severe criticism not only from the CPI(M)'s hardcore leaders but also from a moderate like Jyoti Basu.

Chinese reformer Zhao Ziyang dies (Go To Top)

     Beijing: China's purged Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang has died at the age of 85, after suffering a series of strokes. He died in a deep coma at a Beijing hospital this morning on Monday, surrounded by his family. Zhao had been under house arrest since the crushing of pro- democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989. According to The BBC, security has been tightened in the square in recent days, apparently amid fears that Zhao's death might spark off new reformist demonstrations.

15 Iraqis killed in attacks (Go To Top)

     Baghdad: At least 15 Iraqis have been killed in two separate attacks less than two weeks before the country's election. According to The BBC, at least seven people died in a suicide car bomb outside a police station in the northern town of Baiji. In central Iraq, seven soldiers and a security guard, were killed when insurgents fired on a checkpoint near the Sunni Muslim town of Baquba. The violence comes as Iraqis living abroad begin registering to vote in the elections scheduled for 30 January. Iraqi security forces, who will provide the bulk of the protection for the polls, have come under increasing attack from mainly Sunni Muslim insurgents trying to derail the election. Baquba, 65 km north of Baghdad, and Baiji, about 185 km further north, are two areas where US and Iraqi officials fear insurgent attacks will deter people from voting. Several major Sunni parties are boycotting the vote, after their calls for a delay to the election - on the grounds of security - were unheeded.