Left hopes to cash in on anti-US plank

NEW DELHI: When the CPM politburo decided to send the “fall in line or face the consequences” message to the Manmohan Singh government, it had taken into account the ramifications of an early election.

The Marxists are largely of the view that the Indo-US nuclear deal would give them the right campaign theme to face the polls. Besides, according to the CPM’s calculations, the poll would bring about an element of unity in the faction-ridden Kerala unit.

The politburo, which acknowledged that there could be minor reverses for the party in an early poll, is of the view that the issue could connect with the people in its strongholds.

The last election had showed the electorate in important pockets getting swayed by extra-territorial issues like the hanging of Saddam Hussain. With the Congress’ rivals already describing the engagement with the US as something that goes against the sentiments of the minority community, the CPM is expecting the Congress to suffer huge losses in the elections. In all the three states where the CPM is in power, the Congress is its chief rival or part of the anti-Left formation.

The CPM’s image has taken a beating over violence related to land acquisition in Nandigram and Singur in West Bengal, where it had won 36 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls.

Even here, the CPM feels the nuclear deal issue would help them tide over the political backlash. “We have been fighting against the deal. We will go to the people and campaign against the policies of the Congress and the BJP,” a senior CPM leader said.

Moreover, the CPM, which has been ruling out toppling the UPA government because of fears of BJP returning to power, does not see the possibility of the saffron party gaining ground at this juncture. On the other hand, regional parties like the TDP in Andhra Pradesh and the SP in Uttar Pradesh may have a bigger share in the Lok Sabha.

The CPM has also realised that given the situation, particularly in light of the Prime Minister’s statement that the deal was non-negotiable and that the Left could withdraw support if it wanted, it would have no credibility if it continued to support the government. It would only reinforce the perception that the Left does not have the will to stand up to the government.

The question that the Left is not answering now is what if the Congress look for allies to form the next government after the polls.