The CPI(M) Central Committee meeting that ended on Wednesday discussed the draft political-tactical line of the party, which was challenged by Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury. Party general secretary Prakash Karat says the Central Committee has arrived at a ‘unified understanding’ of the party’s politics. Excerpts from an interview:
What is the Central Committee’s view of the evolving political situation in the country?
Under the BJP-led government, there is a right-wing offensive in the country, both in terms of the economic policies it pursues and in terms of the activities of Hindutva communal outfits. In the past five months, the Modi government has been on an aggressive neoliberal agenda. At the same time, there are attempts to severely cut welfare spending. The CPI(M)’s concern is to resist this right-wing offensive. Therefore, in our discussions, we are focussing on how to strengthen ourselves and be able to lead a united struggle against these forces by bringing together different sections. We are in the process of working out our political-tactical line to be considered by the next Central Committee meeting in January.
Does the party think that the rise of the BJP is also a failure of the CPI(M)?
We look back and see what needs to be done, and how we have implemented the political line in the past few years. We certainly felt that we could have done more on the ground to counter communal politics, ideologically and organisationally.
The CPI(M) is going through a challenging phase, both in Kerala and West Bengal, its strongholds. How did the Central Committee view that situation?
The main concern is the situation in West Bengal, where we faced electoral reverses. The Trinamool Congress is targeting our cadres and supporters. So the priority is to protect the organisation in West Bengal and be able to continue to take up issues of the people. The fact that the BJP is trying to make gains in the State is an additional matter of concern.
What is the assessment of the Kerala situation?
In Kerala, there is no lack of capacity to innovate, as the party has an active cadre. But the social and economic changes that are specific to Kerala have thrown up new challenges before the party. We are trying to innovate to deal with these changes. For instance, the CPI(M) has taken up a cleanliness drive in a big way, the party is training volunteers for palliative care. Such innovations that may not be strictly political in the traditional sense could address the issues specific to Kerala.
Some of your comrades are for cooperation with the Congress in West Bengal. What is the party view?
In the West Bengal State committee, there has been no such discussion. It is a fact that the Congress is not our target in West Bengal and there could be cooperation when there is a threat to democratic freedom and other fundamental principles. But there can be no political alliance or understanding with the Congress.
Would the same logic apply at the national level too?
Our effort is to strengthen the Left and democratic forces in the country. The defence of secularism and related issues are not confined to any political party, a wide range of political opinion will have to be mobilised for that. When there is a serious threat to secular institutions, there will be wider cooperation. But we don’t rely on the Congress leadership, we can have no electoral alliance.
So there was an alternative draft to the Polit Bureau’s draft political-tactical line in the Central Committee. The Polit Bureau line did not find approval?
We are in the process of discussing the political line and it goes though two stages always. At this week’s Central Committee meeting, it was the first round, where the Polit Bureau’s draft and two individual notes prepared by two Polit Bureau members were discussed. There is a unified understanding that has been evolved, which the Polit Bureau will present in the next Central Committee meeting. There is nothing unnatural about this.
