Left divided and clueless over revival strategy

KOLKATA: With CPI(M)-led Left Front decimated in the Lok Sabha elections in the erstwhile red citadel of West Bengal, the leadership seems to be divided whether there should be a change of guard or in Left policies as a way out to regain the lost ground in the state.

The CPI(M), the biggest loser with its tally going down to just two seats in the state and facing questions over its national party status, held a two-day brainstorming state committee session early this week to ascertain the reasons and chalk out the next course of action.

Although lacunae on the part of leaders to provide direction at the time of crisis, organisational glitches, a faulty political line besides alleged rigging and violence by Trinamool Congress have been identified as the main reasons behind the debacle, the party is yet to decide on ways to revive its base in the once impregnable fort.

"One of the main reasons is the violence by Trinamool Congress which resulted in rigging in many areas and another one is people disenchanted with Trinamool didn't feel that the Left is an alternative," CPI(M) politburo member K Vardarajan told PTI here.

However Vardarajan, just like his politburo colleagues Brinda Karat and S Ramachandran Pillai, declined to comment on ways to revive the Left, before the crucial politburo and central committee meet starting Friday.

With the chorus of leadership change in the party growing louder with each passing day, the politburo and central committee meet is likely to discuss the issue.

"We will discuss all issues from organisational lacunae, political line and the issue of leadership change in the upcoming politburo and central committee meeting. Before that I can't say anything," CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury told PTI.

Though senior politburo members remained tightlipped, there seems to be sharp divisions within the party about the steps thats need to be taken to revive the Left in the state with a section seeking leadership change from top to bottom, while others feel that change in approach of the Left movement and increase in contact with the people is the solution.

"I don't feel that just changing the leadership in haste is an answer. There is a process through which we bring in new leaders. I personally feel there is a need to increase mass movements with the burning issues in order to reach out to the masses," CPI(M) central committee member Basudeb Acharia told PTI.