The RSP’s quick U-turn on the issue came immediately after RSP national secretary Abani Roy welcomed the CPI(M)’s move while speaking at the inauguration of the CPI(M)’s 21st Party Congress at Vishakhapatnam.

Abani Roy’s change of mind has to be seen in the context of the refusal of the Kerala unit of the party to leave the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala for the time being. Secretary of the Kerala RSP secretary A. A. Aziz said a firm No to return to the LDF in near future.

Abani Roy’s statement must have come as music to the ears of the UDF leaders, who were apprehensive of the recent statements of the state RSP leaders.

It is no secret that Kerala RSP leaders are unhappy about the refusal of the UDF to concede their twin demand: allow the party to contest from the Aruvikkara assembly seat in the by-election to be held shortly. The seat fell vacant following the death of Speaker G. Karthikeyan. RSP had demanded the seat on the ground that Aruvikkara, formerly known as Aryanad, is a stronghold of the party. In fairness to the party, it must be said that RSP had won from Aryanad several times in the past assembly elections. But the Congress rejected the demand, saying that the party itself would contest from Aruvikkara. RSP’s second demand is that the party be allotted the Deputy Speaker’s post. The Congress has so far said neither no nor yes to it.

But there are indications that the Congress may bow to this demand of the RSP. After all, the UDF cannot afford to annoy the RSP beyond a point. The support of the party’s three MLAs is crucial for the survival of the UDF. Also, if the RSP fails to extend its whole-hearted support, the Congress may lose the Aruvikkara by-election – a development that will seriously affect the stability of the UDF.

It is no surprise that the RSP is not contemplating a return to the LDF. If the party is refusing to have second thoughts on the issue, the blame must be laid squarely at the doors of the CPI(M). For, in the first instance, it was the arrogant attitude of the CPI(M) which forced the RSP to severe its 34-year-old association with the LDF. If only the CPI(M) had addressed the concerns of the RSP with greater tact and understanding, that party would not have left the LDF and crossed over to the UDF. The CPI(M)’s arrogant refusal to allot the Kollam Lok Sabha seat – the RSP has an emotional attachment to the constituency - to the RSP left that party with no option but to walk out of the LDF.

And it is a fact admitted by one and all that the RSP’s exit caused the defeat of the LDF in at least three seats: Kollam, Mavelikkara and Alappuzha. Ironically, the CPI(M)’s organizational report also agrees that the RSP’s exit had weakened the LDF considerably! (IPA)