CPI abandons RJD; larger Left front for Bihar assembly polls

NEW DELHI: MR Lalu Prasad’s pro-Congress approach appears to be causing unease for RJD’s potential allies. CPI has abandoned its plans for electoral adjustments with RJD in the coming assembly polls. It will, instead, tie up with other Left forces, including CPI(ML).

The CPI national executive, which met here on Thursday, decided to re-work the party’s poll tactics in Bihar and asked state units to explore electoral adjustments with CPM, Forward Bloc and CPI(ML).

This is the first time that CPM and CPI will be fighting an assembly election with CPI(ML) the most influential Left party in Bihar.

CPI’s national executive members were of the view that Lalu Prasad cannot be counted as the party’s ally in the larger struggle against the Centre. They also felt that RJD’s “association with feudal landlords” in the state will harm CPI’s image.

CPI was in favour of aligning with RJD and LJP to take on JD (U)-BJP combine as well as Congress, despite CPM’s reluctance to toe this line. CPM had decided to fight the elections along with the other Left parties, including CPI(ML).

In the 2005 assembly polls, CPM had stood by Mr Lalu Prasad, while CPI, under pressure from its state unit, fought against RJD as part of a front comprising LJP and other smaller Left parties. CPI had held RJD responsible for the deteriorating law and order and lack of development in the state.

Communist Party Of India (Marxist) (CPM) had admitted that it had underestimated the extent to which Mr Prasad had become unpopular. Though CPI’s influence has waned, it still has 3 MLAs while CPM has 1. CPI(ML) has 5 legislators in Bihar.

In the Lok Sabha polls last year, Communist Party Of India (Marxist), CPI and CPI(ML) had joined hands for the first time. They had fielded 33 candidates but drew a blank.