NEW DELHI: The most crucial battle for the Left is in Kerala, where the CPM-led vigilantes are fighting to return to power in the last communist-ruled state, which goes to polls along with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry. In Bengal – where it was once a dominant force but now lacks MLAs and MPs from the state – it is struggling to revive. In Tamil Nadu, it is working to ensure the return of the DMK-led alliance, of which both the CPM and the Communist Party of India are part. Left parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), as part of the Congress-led alliance in Assam, are also gearing up to take on the BJP. They will focus on the working class, Dalits and other backward classes in all poll-affected states.
Mabebi and Dipankar Bhattacharya, the liberation general secretaries of the CPM and CPI(ML), respectively, have stressed that the aim is to expand the Left’s sphere of influence, weaken the BJP where it is in power and ensure that the latter does not become stronger in opposition-ruled states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Highlighting the outreach activities of the Left parties, CPI’s D Raja said the BJP’s failures in the areas of economy, job creation, inflation and foreign policy have been exposed. Babi admitted that while there was “fierce fighting” in Kerala, “we believe people will see what the LDF government has done and will not be swayed by the narrative of the United Front and the BJP. We will also approach the people and accept criticism to understand their concerns and address their problems.” With the resurgent United Front stepping up its attacks on the two CPM-led governments in Kerala and the BJP appearing to be making inroads, the state’s assembly elections will be a tough test for left parties. Failure would put a big question mark on the Left’s influence in the Indian bloc and across the country. Meanwhile, in a bid to steer West Bengal’s renaissance and mark its presence as a third force in the race, the Left Front will go to the polls as a broader alliance that includes the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) – unlike in previous assembly elections – as well as a number of non-Left players.
