A day after electoral debacle in West Bengal, the Communist Party of India felt that arrogance and corruption among the cadre and leaders at certain levels resulted in the Left Front becoming isolated from the people, and it was time to analyse the situation threadbare instead of finding ‘scapegoats'.
“The leadership got isolated from the people. At certain levels, arrogance and even corruption crept in among the cadres and leaders. They took the people for granted not realising that people are not passive and mere objects of politics but active makers of political destiny and the future,” CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan told The Hindu here on Saturday.
Citing the level of isolation, he said that even after the campaign was over, top leadership continued to claim “we are winning.” The CPI leader lamented that considering that the Left had active groups working at grass roots, if only the leadership had its hands on the pulse of the people, it could have gauged how deep the urge for a change was running among the people.
While arguing that rationale thinking need not always be behind the idea of a change that gripped the people, he said, however, alienation from the masses was one of the main causes for the Left Front making a series of “mistakes and sins of omission and commission.”
For instance, he sought to know why minorities in West Bengal were neglected in education, economic development and empowerment and, if that was the case, why were policies not announced to correct the same. “It was too late and people could not appreciate the full impact of these steps.”
Emphasising that the policy approach on industrialisation was “certainly correct,” the CPI leader said both in practice and tactics sober calculation was needed as to how much land was to be set aside for industry after talking to all stakeholders.
“In this matter, there has been a gross neglect but Singur and Nandigram are only symbols and not the causes behind whatever has happened. In my view, we must also ask the question why during more than three decades, the Left Front remained confined only to three States and not acquire any significant influence in the rest of the country,” Mr. Bardhan said. Introspection should also include how all the anti-Left forces could combine in a grand alliance against the Left. “I think what is needed is not to find scapegoats and indulge in blame game. For, such an approach only avoids deep reflection. We should rather undertake in-depth analysis of the causes,” he said.
Keywords: West Bengal Assembly polls, Left Front, A.B. Bardhan
Left has won 7 consecutive elections besides numerous panchayat, municipal, and parliament elections. Obviously this can't continue forever and at some point or the other, it can lose elections. This time, they made mistakes and being too long in power made some leaders arrogant. I don't understand why people start to take sweeping conclusions from the election results with regards to the failure of an Ideology itself. Obviously, the Left will look inwards and take corrective measures. People who think that this is the end of Left are bound to be disappointed. After all, 42% of the people voted for the Left in Bengal and 45% in Kerala!
Communism is an outdated philosophy, it has never worked anywhere, not even with the Soviet Union,it never will, it's just too rigid. In fact, I'd like to see a secular Bengal and one that represents Indian politics in clarity. All this marxist or maoist business will never lead to any sustainable growth outcome to any party... it was meant for Germany and the Prussian empire - and East Europe/Russia. To re-model any form of Western ideology in Asia will never yield any benefits. Look at India, even capitalism in the country smells of socialism - best keep our politics intellectual. Of course, only if they have the capacity to challenge themselves - if not, stay out of it.
During the 34 year reign of the Left Front, all economic development in W. Bengal virtully stopped. Mamta Banerji has a unique opportunity to ensure that economic development in her state is revived but I doubt that will happen. It is easy to be a rable rouser but it is more difficult to be an able administrator. Sure, she will adopt numerous populist measures but that will not lead to economic growth of the state.
Really welcome thoughts from an old Comrade! Also, the Communists should also undertake an in-depth analysis of why Communism perished in the entire east-block and why China is pushing for capitalist-communism. Communists should also try to learn to fight for common causes with other parties even if the other parties are not totally like-minded. The support should be on issue-based rather than the ideology of the other party. This dogmatic approach was the reason why they are not present in many other states. What is wrong in joining with BJP on price-rise, corruption and dynastic politics issues? One laughable issue is their joining with Muslim Parties in Kerala or Andhra Pradesh or other states while chanting 'secular' mantra!!
In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has emerged a savior of people against land mafia, political militancy and lack of governance. She is the new icon in the Indian democracy upon installation of the government headed by her that is becoming a historical event while nailing the coffin of the communist regime lasted for 34 years!
If the left is sincere in their approach, they must forget the past and come together under a common umbrella. Gone are the days when you can have one party owing allegiance to Moscow, one to Beijing etc. Even the socialists of all colours like RSP,Foward Bloc,JD U and JD S and even the new Socialist party must all think of forming one GRAND NEW SOCIALIST PARTY OF INDIA if at all they want to keep the left movement alive in India. All said and done the common Indian voter has no future under the rule of either Congress or BJP for both these parties represent the capitalists and capitalism as it existed in the 20th Century has failed even in America, Europe has shied away from Capitalism long time back.
Poor communists are still blaming on everything else than their own failed policies of the party. Unless and until they learn from the new direction of the world communist countries are following and bringing prosperity to their citizens, they can never expect to return to power in India.
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