Positioning itself for a possible repeat of 2004, when the Left parties supported the Congress-led UPA government from outside, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday announced that it will support the formation of an “alternative secular government” at the Centre.
The phrase is significant, because the political line approved in the 22nd party congress in April in Hyderabad did not mention this scenario. The political line approved then said the BJP had to be defeated without having a political alliance with the Congress, by pooling anti-BJP votes and with an understanding with all secular Opposition parties.
Asked if the party would support such an “alternative secular government” if it was headed by the Congress, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “That depends. In 1996, you had a government without the Congress; in 2004, you had a government headed by the Congress. Let us see what the verdict will be.”
No grand alliance
Mr. Yechury also ruled out an all-encompassing alliance, or mahagatbandhan, of Opposition parties at the national level. It has to be State-specific alliances with the strongest party leading such an alliance, he said.
In 2004, the CPI(M) won 43 seats on its own, and the Left had an all-time-high presence in the Lok Sabha with 59 seats. The party is in a weaker position today and party insiders do not expect a dramatic change in electoral fortunes in 2019.
The phrase “alternative secular government” has been introduced after intense discussions during the three-day Central Committee meeting, where once again it faced the dilemma of supporting the Congress. The West Bengal unit had said it would need an understanding with the Congress.
The West Bengal unit and Mr. Yechury argued that the party would be alienating a large section of the electorate, if it is not seen stridently opposing the BJP.
The Central Committee has approved a three- pronged strategy. One, the main task is to defeat the BJP alliance. Second, to increase the strength of the CPI(M) and Left in the Lok Sabha and third, to ensure an alternative secular government is formed at the Centre.
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