Smaller states won’t end backwardness: CPM

NEW DELHI: CPM on Thursday said the demand for Telangana state could stir a hornets’ nest and result in statehood cries across the country.

However, the party, which has been consistent in its ‘no smaller states’ stand, took a cautious ‘wait and watch’ approach on the government’s nod to initiating the process of formation of Telangana.

“It’s good some initiative has been taken to defuse the situation and end the TRS leader’s fast. But what Congress concretely proposes to do, we will have to wait and see,” CPM polit bureau member Sitaram said at a press conference here.

To a question about Congress’ handling of the situation, he said the party’s ‘prevarication’ on the issue was to be blamed for continuance of the problem. “There has been mishandling of the situation by Congress,” he said.

Arguing against bifurcation, he said it will affect the federal character as smaller states will have a meeker voice when it comes to putting pressure on the Centre with any demand. Besides this, he said it has been seen that the threat of Maoism has increased in smaller states, like Chhattisgarh.


“CPM has always taken a principled stand on smaller states once reorganisation has taken place on basis of language. More issues should not be added,” Mr Yechury said. The party had opposed bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and MP.

Though CPM and TRS were allies in TDP-led front in Andhra Pradesh before the elections, the Marxist party had not agreed to back the demand for Telangana. TRS had joined the front after TDP made a U-turn and supported the statehood cause.

With CPM managing to win only one Assembly seat and drawing a nil in the Lok Sabha elections in the state, its opposition to formation of Telangana will not matter. Unlike CPM, CPI supports formation of Telangana.

Mr Yechury said the formation of a new state was a long drawn process and that it would not address the concerns about backwardness of the Telangana region. He said this has been vindicated through the formation of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

To a question if the party was worried that the demand for Gorkhaland may gain momentum, he said “there will be several problems. That’s why we are saying don’t disturb it.” Noises for statehood are being made from several regions including Vidharbha, Bundelkhand, Avadh and Poorvanchal. “It might be difficult to ignore their demand from ethnic tribal perspective or some other basis,’’ he said.