1046 New Round up First Fornight February 2018

News Reports indicate that Leaders of the Communist Party of India are trying to prevent split of the Party, on the question of whether to have Alliance with Indian National Congress, or not. While the Former General Secretary Shri Sitaram Yechuri favors an Alliance with Congress, on the ground that it is essential to overcome the Communal Forces and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruling India, the present General Secretary and his Supporters insist that the Party has to maintain distance both from Congress and the BJP. Personally, ybrao-a-donkey views that it will be better if CPIM splits, and both the new Offsprings become Active so as to be ready to face the 2019 Elections.

Splits are not new to Communist Movements in India

Ever since the major first split of 1964, when the United Communist Party of India got split into CPI and CPI (Marxist), on the question of whether to support USSR & Mrs. Indira Gandhi on one side, or to support China and Mao de Zong on the other side, the Indian Communist Movement had undergone several splits.

CPI preferred to support the USSR (Russia) and Mrs. Indira Gandhi. CPIM preferred to support China and Mao, and relatively more militant approach. CPIM had strength in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. CPI's strength was geographically scattered in the entire India, and consequently, it could not come into power in any State, except as a Member of a Left Front. Gradually, with the death of veteran members and with few new Youth Admissions into the Party taking place, CPI lost its strength.

CPIM ruled West Bengal for three decades, and during the period it became more bourgeoisie and lost its Leftist Spirit. Finally, it surrendered itself to the demands of Industrial Houses like Tatas, started harassing small farmers in the name of Industrial Development, while its Opponent Ms. Mamta Banerjee's Trinamul Congress wooed the Peasants and Laborers, and routed out the Left Front from Bengal.

Since the 1964, during the five decades, more militant members of CPIM left it, to form further more militant, somewhat violent outfit Movements such as Naxals, Maoists, of various hues. They believed that Communist Revolution can be brought into India only with the barrel of a Gun. They mobilised Funds from Forest and Other Contractors, purchased Arms, attracted innocent Tribals into their Movements, killed some landlords, killed more Villagers in the name of Informers, and gunned down / blasted out hundreds of Policemen. Finally what happened? Central and State Governments were made to spend billions of Rupees on Police Forces, Vehicles, Copters and Helipads, Arms and Ammunition, Payments to Informers. Police too killed thousands of Naxals, Maoists, and Villagers on various pretexts during genuine and fake Encounters. Did the Professed Revolution come? Na. Could the Government annihilate the Naxals and Maoists completely? Na.

Are the CPI and CPIM truly self-introspective?

When compared to the Bourgeoisie Parties, Communal Parties, Dynastic Parties, Regional Parties, the CPI and CPIM may be more self-introspective. But it is only partially true. Both the CPI and CPIM do not have adequate internal democracies. They just make semblances of Introspection. But, real introspection never takes place.

Example: Was it a blunder, not to permit Late Jyothi Basu become Prime Minister of India, when a slight and vague opportunity arose in 1990s?

That step could not be termed as a blunder. At the most, it might have been a minor error. May be a minor error, which might have been based on foreseeabilities of ponderables. Had Late Jyothi Basu formed a Government at Centre, and become Prime Minister, believing that Congress would genuinely support him, he might have been disposed off, quicker than the time taken for the disposal of Messrs. Charan Singh, Deve Gowda, I.K. Gujral and Chandrasekhar. Reason: Congress and BJP were never accustomed to play a second fiddle for long periods. They are like maneaters which having tasted human blood will never compromise for anything lower. Congress and BJP want power at any cost. Mr. Jyothi Basu and the CPIM might have had to face disappointments and humiliations. All those ignominies were averted by the CPIM of that time, and Jyothi Basu was saved from his catastrophic political collapse.

Question: If CPI and CPIM do not, in unison with Congress and Regional Parties, make a United Fight against BJP, in the 2019 General Election, BJP will again come to Power.

This may happen. But, it can also happen even if Left Front supports Congress. Besides, after winning, Congress may continue with Soft Hindutva exhibited by Rahul Gandhi recently, old habit of appeasing Minorities, the same bourgeoisie policies and practices of the Congress-BJP ilk Crony-Capitalism. CPIM should not forget that Manmohan Singh, Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Congress ditched the CPIM in 2009.

Question: Do you want perpetuate the Rule of Mr. Narendra Modi?

Ans: Though it is by-and-large true that People of India and its States are vexed with both Congress, BJP, and Regional Parties like Samajvadi, BSP, RJD, Anna DMK, TDP, YSRCP, TRS etc. etc., they do not see CPI or CPIM as alternatives for the bourgeoisie Parties. They still prefer the Bourgeoisie Parties to the Left. May be because Bourgeoisie Paries throw more Currency Notes, more liquor, and cater more to their demands like Ration Cards, House sites, Health Cards, Reservations. Not to lag behind, Left Parties too tried these offers, but they could not match with he bourgeoisie parties.

Left Parties erroneously believe that their votes can be transferred in favor of Congress, and vice versa. But it is wrong. If Left Parties ask their sympathizers to vote for Congress in Constituency 'X', expecting that Congress will ask their Voters in Constituency 'Y' to vote for CPIM, will it really happen? A true Left sympathizer may not take money for his Vote. Yet, he may not vote for Congress. Such voter may not go to the Polling Station at all, or may prefer NOTA. A Bourgeoisie Party's Voters can get tempted because they do not have any ideological compulsions. Even Religious Beliefs cannot work as glue to bind them to their Parties. Consequently, Congress Voters can sell their votes for money, and vote for the Candidate whoever pays them.

Question: Do you mean to say that Left Parties should not Unite?

Ans: Communist Parties believe that there should be one United Leftist Party, fighting numerous Bourgeoisie Parties. On the other hand, I believe that there should be at least two very Active Leftist Parties contesting Elections with one another in every Constituency, relegating bourgeoisie parties to oblivion. That means CPI and CPIM can contest with one another. Similarly if CPIM splits, CPIM(1) can contest with CPIM(2). Voters should have choices in selecting and electing a Communist / Marxist / Socialist Party. If Communist Parties artificially unite, this will not happen. Voters will have One Communist Party and numerous Bourgeoisie Parties in the arena. Then those voters who are unhappy with the Monopolyist Artificial Communist Party will vote for the bourgeoisie party. Hence, let there be Natural competition among Leftist Parties in the Election. In fact, this is the meaning of 'Dictatorship of Proletariat'. The essence of this idea is: If all the Communist Parties belong to the Working Class, electing Working Class Persons as their Leaders, and bulk of the Population believes that they belong to the Working Class, then a true Ballot Revolution will take place. This may appear to be Utopian. Whether Utopian or not, correct things have to take place. In Telugu language, there is a proverb 'navvina nApa cElu panDavA?' (English meaning: While onlookers continue laughing, even stony soils will yield good harvest [provided hard work is done]).

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