CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat admits Left failed to rally people

THRISSUR: Reeling under the impact of the crippling electoral defeat suffered by the Left, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today admitted that the Left had failed to convince and rally people including the working class under the alternative plank it projected.

Speaking at a seminar held in memory of Marxist stalwart E M S Namboodiripad here, Karat said there had also been alienation of sections of people from the Left and it would be introspected in the coming days.

"At the all-India level, politics and political line the Left pursued had not been able to attract sections of people...There had been certain degree of alienation of people from the Left," he said.

Stating that his party and allies would examine the causes of this process leading to electoral debacle, Kart said one conclusion already reached was that "we have failed in projecting the Left alternative sufficiently and comprehensively to be understood by the people."

Despite "movements and struggles" launched to highlight the grievances of masses, the Left failed to rally working class including peasants, agricultural workers and labourers in unorganised sectors under its banner, he said.