CPI(M) faces resistance within on alliance with Cong in Assembly polls

Though organisational wreck up is the issue to be discussed in the plenum of the CPI(M), the party is actually facing a resistance to form an alliance with the Congress in the forthcoming  Assembly elections in West Bengal.

Having more central committee members in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the party is vehemently opposing the proposal from a section of West Bengal leaders as in Kerala the party will fight against the Congress in the Assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2016. “The same party cannot have to political views and so the leaders from south will not support this,” a party insider said.

The biggest question which the party is facing is that in the past five decades it has failed to penetrate in five states bordering West Bengal.  In Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand Sikkim where the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly is 638, the CPI(M) does not have a single MLA. 

In 2014, Lok Sabha election the party’s result was disastrous and  it has only 9 MPs in the  Lok Sabha now. Many leaders have questioned that instead of discussing the party’s organization, it should first settle the political issues.

Many have also said that questions should be raised whether Lenin’s philosophy whose basis was European Society was still relevant in Indian context where people often change floor. Those opposing the view to support  Congress maintained that it would lead to party’s disaster. 

If CPI(M) supporters  vote for Congress candidates, then the electoral partner will be benefited  but what will happen if Congress supporters do not vote CPIM candidates. Thus, the party is likely to face a disaster. 

“On the whole the plenum is not likely to be conclusive,” felt some party leaders.

The ongoing plenum is the third one since the inception of the party in 1964. The first plenum, was held in Burdwan where the issue was the conflict between the Communist parties of China and Socviet Russia. The second plenum was held in Salkia in December, 1978 where the party’s role in the Hindi belt was discussed. 

The party has also failed to project the young leaders and no definite resolution has yet been taken about how many  new young leaders will be given responsibility.  

The first generation leaders except VS Achdanandan are dead. The second generation leaders including Bimab Bose and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee are on the verge of retirement. 

The third generation leaders including Dr Suryakanta Misra, Mohammad Selim and MS Babby are coming  up but the big question is whether the old guards will welcome the new leaders and allow them to work freely.