Attitude towards Congress: CPI opens way for new discussion

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the CPM and CPI are moving towards party congresses, the CPI state unit has opened the way for new discussions on its approach to the Congress. This was evident from the response of CPI national secretariat member Binoy Vishwam who said that the Left will not be able to fill that gap if Congress collapses. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran also supported this statement.

KPCC president K Sudhakaran alleged that CPM leaders, including CM Pinarayi Vijayan, are displaying the party's tactics to ensure the continuance of LDF rule in Kerala by destroying Congress and helping BJP. AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal also welcomed the CPI's stand. The difference of opinion between the Kerala and Bengal factions of the CPM regarding the cooperation with Congress at the 22nd party congress in Hyderabad in 2018 had become a hot topic of discussion. Things turned into the Karat-Yechury war with the Kerala unit united behind Prakash Karat. Things heated up when general secretary Sitaram Yechury presented an alternative to the draft resolution presented by Karat. Yechury's position gained more prominence in a political resolution passed by majority decision. The CPM thus shifted to a tactical strategy of allying with secular democratic parties as far as possible inside and outside parliament. Karat's position that the BJP had not become a full-fledged fascist organization was also discussed.

As the 23rd party congress is approaching, the position of the Kerala unit is gaining more strength. The CPM Central Committee is of the view that Congress could not cope with communalism in the current national and political situation, including in Bengal. This is emphasized in the draft political resolution to be presented at the Kannur Party Congress. The new position of the CPM is that the Left must grow in India to combat communalism and become a tactical force in the states in line with the local political situation.

Leaders, including the Chief Minister, have stated that Congress will not be able to fight communalism. At the same time, the CPI leaders are diverting the discussion by pointing out the importance of Congress. CPI has no objection to Congress from the outset. The CPI leaders are supporting Congress at a time when CPM is advocating for the empowerment of the Left.