That the CPI(M) and the CPI, the two key constituents of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), are on different pages on key questions of governance has been evident for the past several months, but the relations between the two fraternal parties appear to have hit a low ebb with the current round of sparring over the Munnar eviction.
The CPI is keen that it should not be seen as the ‘B’ team of the CPI(M). It has, therefore, been trying to make its stance clear on issues ranging from the Maoist killings in the Nilambur forests, use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against activists, the government’s refusal to provide information on Cabinet decisions under the Right to Information Act and, most recently, the way the Jishnu Pranoy death case was handled by the government and the police.
CPI(M) displeasure
On each of these occasions, the CPI(M) has made its displeasure known. With the Munnar evictions, the differences appear to have taken a serious turn.
The CPI stance on all these issues have been most forcefully expressed by party State secretary Kanam Rajendran, though party organ Janayugom too has been using every available opportunity to speak out its mind, often dispensing with coalition niceties.
An expert in cut-and-thrust of political debate, Mr. Rajendran has on all such occasions succeeded in driving home the point that though the CPI might be a partner in the ruling alliance, it has its own position on key policy questions and decisions and will rather state it publicly so that everybody knows what is what.
The CPI(M) leadership strongly believes that the CPI and Mr. Rajendran are trying to score brownie points and resent their criticism of the government and its actions, though within the ruling alliance and its peripheries there are many who admire the way the CPI has been articulating its position on diverse issues.
The CPI(M) leadership feels that it is unbecoming of an ally, who is ever dependent on the CPI(M) for its electoral successes, to turn back and speak in a language befitting an Opposition party or take positions that even the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has not taken.
As a political alliance, the LDF has lost much of its old diversity with the exit of parties such as the Janata Dal led by M.P. Veerendrakumar and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) from the alliance.
That has left just the CPI as the only constituent which could play the role of the critical insider.
The CPI itself is not inclined to take its criticism over individual issues beyond a point.
Moreover, the two parties are wedded to each other at the national level over larger national political questions and cannot allow State-level skirmishes to upset their combined march forward.
