The general secretary of the CPI(ML) Dipankar Bhattacharya has been quite candid and forthright in his observation on the future of the left movement and the leftist parties in India. With RSS determined to dissipate all the political parties, especially the regional parties and the left, it has become imperative for the left to ignore their differences and unite to fight the move of the RSS and BJP. To create a Hindu Rashtra It is absolutely clear that only the left supporters and cadres can withstand the repressive and authoritarian politics and policies of the BJP.

Some time back the Marxist Coordination Council (MCC) of veteran communist late A K Roy, had organised a daylong seminar on “Increasing fascism and challenges before Left politics” in collaboration with the CPI (ML) at Nirsa. At that seminar both the MCC and CPI (ML) had agreed to forge a greater Left alliance in Jharkhand and Bihar. The seminar was aimed at educating the cadres of both the parties about the importance of communism and left politics in the present scenario.

Bhattacharya pointed out that even in the states of West Bengal and Tripura where the left once commanded immense support and had strong ideological and political base, the situation is pathetic. The left failed to preserve its traditional ideological base. The left parties must do some serious introspection to find out the real reasons. Communist parties must widen their approach and activities if they intend to remain relevant in Indian politics.

Dipankar made it clear; “We are in favour of forging a broader forum of left which in true sense could challenge the hegemony of the RSS and BJP. The Left parties need to wage a war against the politics of BJP.” The prevalent political scenario makes it specifically clear that the Indian left cannot match the resources and financial strength of the RSS and BJP. It is an open secret that the corporate sector has been taking care of the financial needs of the BJP. It is also a fact that 70 per cent of the electoral bonds have been sold to the BJP. In sharp contrast the left parties utterly lack that proportion of financial resources.

It is a fact that the CPI(M) and CPI have failed to adapt to the needs and compulsions of the prevailing electoral politics, which is being defined by big spending. The only way out to face the challenges of the RSS and BJP and defeat them at the hustings has been strong connection and political affinity with the people at the ground level. The victory of the CPI(ML) candidates in the assembly election in Bihar in 2020 could be cited as the example. Manoj Manzil defeated his Janata Dal (U) rival by 48,550 votes in Agiaon in the 2020 Bihar assembly polls. He utterly lacked resources. At the time of election he owned a goat, a mud hut on a small piece of land — around three dismil (0.01 hectare) — and zero money in his account. He is amongst the 12 CPI (Marxist-Leninist) candidates who made it to the state assembly. The election marked the resurgence of Left ideology in the caste politics-ridden state.

At a time when the left has been on systematic decline across the country, the CPI-ML fielded 19 candidates out of which 12 won in the Bihar polls. Dipankar rightly asserts that if Bihar had voted on Caste Lines the CPI (ML) would not have got so many seats. It is sad that the traditional left parties have failed to reach out to the Dalits, poor and OBCs which by and large remains neglected. While the left parties have getting alienated from their traditional support base, the RSS and BJP have been resorting to various tactics to reach out and entice them.

At the two day national conclave in Patna last week, the saffron brigade has been directed to reach out to this section of the unprivileged population and enrol them as the party members. The cadre who performs well would also be rewarded. The primary aim is to win away this section of the population from RJD and other regional parties. No doubt the CPI(ML) has emerged as strong performers in the Bihar elections, the immediate important task is to consolidate the gains.

The CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said that he would start the process soon. The progression would gain momentum after the party Congress which would be held in February next year. True enough the Congress would set the issue rolling. He is hopeful that the next CPI(ML) party congress will chart out a concretion action programme for the Left.

BJP has already emerged as a major political force. Obviously the challenge to its hegemony from the left should be more precise, concrete and strong. The revival of the Left parties must not remain a topic of debate. It should be given a concrete and viable shape. The people nurse strong hope from the left. But they have not been able to come up to their expectation and grow enormously over the years. Dipankar is happy that the CPI(ML) has succeeded in expanding its base. The CPI(ML) is also happy that it has been able to form a left alliance consisting of major left parties for the first time In Bihar in 2020. This could be cited as the alternate model of alliance in future at the national level in which all the partners would be equals. (IPA Service)