Communist Party of India (CPI) Parliamentary Party leader Gurudas Dasgupta said the results of the municipal elections in West Bengal showed a negative vote and the Left parties ought to introspect about their lapses, shortcomings and why they could not live up to the people's expectations.
Describing the poll results as “a great setback to the Left parties,” Mr. Dasgupta said: “We have not learnt a lesson from the downfall of the USSR. We have moved away from the people because we have done a wrong and they taught us a lesson. The Left parties have to introspect about their political policies, organisational norms, on the role of government in the bourgeois system. We might have compromised too much in the governance. We need to correct quickly and bring back confidence in the people”.
“We are prepared”
The CPI leader told journalists that the debacle of the Left in the municipal elections was likely to have an impact on the West Bengal Assembly elections due in a year.
However, he was hopeful that the people would realise the role of Left in the country. “We are prepared for any eventuality,” he added.
Mr. Dasgupta regretted that price rise had no impact on the elections. This was because the Left's failures in West Bengal had overshadowed those of the United Progressive Alliance government.
He expressed confidence that the Left would be able to correct its mistakes and continue to lead the fight for the people's welfare.
“CPI(M) more to blame”
According to him, the CPI (M) had a greater responsibility for the debacle but the CPI could not absolve itself. Asked if the Left parties' strong opposition to the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and trade unionism were some of the reasons for its drubbing, Mr. Dasgupta said the Left was never against industries but wanted a fair play. The SEZs were being opposed because each one of them was functioning like an independent entity in which the laws of the land were not applicable.
Fuel hike
He urged people to strongly oppose the government's proposal to hike petroleum prices as it would fuel inflation, particularly in respect of prices of essential commodities.
Mr. Dasgupta, who is general secretary of All-India Trade Union Congress, is in the city to participate in the two-day second national convention of the All-India Women Workers' Federation.
