The Left as a group is not in a comfortable situation in the current polls since its main strength in West Bengal where it has presently 15 seats out of its present strength of 24, may come down and that may lead to the decline in the number of seats on May 16 despite good possibility of increase in the number of seats from Kerala. Once the BJP led NDA combination gets less than 220 seats and falls much below the level of 272, needed for majority, the non-NDA parties, especially the regional parties will have an important role to play in forming an alternative to NDA government to keep the BJP out of power once again.

This will be a Herculean task in view of the opportunist policies of many of the regional parties but still this task is not impossible taking into account the recent positioning of most of the regional parties against the BJP and more recently against the Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. If the BJP led NDA closes nearer the figure of 272, it may be easier for the BJP leadership to rope in new regional allies, but if the figure does not cross 220, the Congress and the regional parties have an opportunity. The left even with its reduced strength in the new Lok Sabha can impart some ideological edge to that anti-BJP combination taking into account the challenge of the situation.

Herein the question comes how this combination can sustain itself against the rejuvenated BJP and the Prime Ministerial candidate of the saffron combination Narendra Modi unless there is a total understanding between the Congress and the regional parties as also the Left on the immediate programme. For Left, there are two delicate issues – relationship with the Congress and also with the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee. CPI-M general secretary has clarified the position on the Congress by stating that there cannot be any secular alternative without the Congress actively participating in the combination. This means that the Congress has to be a partner in the non-NDA coalition even if it does not lead the government.

The second most important issue is whether the Left likes it or not, Mamata has emerged as the major opponent of Narendra Modi in the recent days and if she sticks to her present stance, that will help in organizing the regional parties on a anti- Narendra Modi platform. Veteran CPI leader A B Bardhan has put the issue in proper perspective by stating in Kerala on Monday that CPI is not averse in accepting Mamata as a partner in a non-BJP alternative.

Bardhan should be congratulated for his boldness in making this position clear since the big hostility between the Left and the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has cast its shadow over the bigger national task of the need for the unity of the forces opposed to Narendra Modi. The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate is becoming more vicious in the last days of the campaigning and his communalization of the campaign has led to tensions in border areas of both West Bengal and Assam. Both the West Bengal left leaders and Mamata have been equally vocal in condemning Modi for such provocative speeches during his campaign in both Assam and West Bengal. Left and Mamata might be fighting in West Bengal and the Left might be jittery at being cornered but earlier, on a number of times, the Left gave support to the Congress to form government at the centre despite fighting bitterly in West Bengal and Kerala. Under the same logic, the Left can have understanding with Mamata at national level to combat the bigger evil Narendra Modi.

The present political situation is totally different compared to the earlier Lok Sabha elections. In 2004, the Left had 61 seats in the new Lok Sabha while the strength went down to 24 in 2009 elections. In 2014, the left may not retain this strength and if that happens, the Left will not have enough bargaining power to influence the decision making process among the non-BJP parties.

But still the veteran Left leaders carry personal clout and integrity in the present degrading political environment .The Left leaders like Prakash Karat, A.B. Bardhan, Sudhakar Reddy and Sitaram Yechury have to be actively engaged after May 16 and make all efforts to see that there is a non-NDA secular alternative and here discussions can be held with both TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and the AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.AAP is under the impression that it will emerge as a national party after the Lok Sabha elections and it will emerge much stronger than the Left. Once the outcome is known, there is need for close interaction between Left and the AAP since on many issues, Left and AAP have commonalities.

The present political situation in the country needs an innovative approach by the Left to influence the course of developments irrespective of whether there is a Modi government or not. If there is a Modi government, the struggle has to be launched in new form and new forces have to be identified for fighting the divisive policies of that regime. If a secular alternative emerges at the centre, the task is no less in ensuring the sustenance of that combination. The Left has to be more pro-active in the post May 16 period, irrespective of the poll outcome. Indian polity is entering a crucial phase next week and the Left has an opportunity to navigate the path of the secular alternative on the basis of time bound pro-people programme. (IPA Service)