CPI blames CPM for poor show

NEW DELHI: No arrogance please��� was CPI���s message to comrades in the aftermath of the Left���s humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. Fissures resurfaced within the Left Front as the CPM���s strategies in West Bengal and Kerala came under attack from CPI.

At a day-long meeting of the CPI national executive on Wednesday, big brother���s approach towards issues like Nandigram, corruption and alliances were predominantly blamed.

Though like CPM, CPI too admitted that the third front idea was not seen by the electorate as ���viable, stable and realistic���, the latter emphasised on state-specific factors, organisational lapses and lack of Left unity.

���In addition to the national factors, there were certain state specific factors for instance in West Bengal and Kerala which directly involved the image and performance of the Left,��� a statement issued by CPI after the meeting said.

Without naming CPM, it said the national executive ���emphasised the need for humility and total absence of arrogance in the behaviour and attitude of all Left leaders and activists in relation to people���.
According to sources, the CPI national executive was of the view that several of CPM���s pre-poll strategies had gone wrong. CPM had tried to woo the Muslims by backing a candidate on the Ponnani seat, despite CPI being opposed to such a move. The minority vote in the state has largely gone to Congress.

CPM had faced flak at the Left meeting a day after the election results for distancing the allies in the Left strongholds.

Cracks had appeared in the LDF in Kerala with all the allies ��� CPI, RSP and JD(S) ��� getting peeved with CPM. The LDF was already suffering the disadvantage of the anti-incumbency and a bitter factional feud within CPM.

In West Bengal, CPI was of the view that the handling of Nandigram did the Left Front in.