Demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax will affect the BJP’s poll prospects both in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury told reporters here on Thursday.
Public anger against the twin measures was palpable and “we have to wait and see how these steps, which ruined crores of lives manifest in the coming elections,” Mr. Yechury said.
He was here in connection with the constitution of the reception committee for the party’s 22nd national congress to be held from April 18 to 22.
He said the CPI(M) was contesting from a few seats in the two States and the main agenda of the party was to fight the existing policies, which were “against the interests of the people.”
The party line was in support of alternative policies, not leaders. “Neta nahin, niti chahiye [not the leaders, we need policies].” he said.
Slams vote-bank politics
On the government’s reported moves to advance the general election, he said there was talk of early polls but it had to be seen whether the government would opt for it given the anger among the people consequent on demonetisation and introduction of the GST.
He also criticised the “worst vote-bank politics” being resorted to by the BJP for consolidating the Hindutva vote bank and called for alternative policies to counter this tendency.
Recalling a quote by Sardar Patel claiming that the cult of violence sponsored by the Sangh had claimed many lives, he said the same cult was continuing in the form of cow protection committees that were attacking Dalits and Muslims.