People's Democracy

IN an interview to Ganashakti daily , the state secretary of the Bengal unit of the CPI (M), Anil Biswas spoke on the electoral success of the Left Front and on issues concerning the functioning of the new LF government. Excerpts follow:

Certainly the sixth Vidhan Sabha election for the Left Front presented a tough proposition, and I would cite at least five reasons why this was so. First, the Left Front which has won assembly elections from 1977 onwards in an unbroken string of popular victories was nevertheless faced with the so-called incumbency factor this time, after the passage of no less than 24 years in office. Tackling anti-establishment sentiments was no doubt a challenge which the Left Front has been able to tackle, and adequately, too, I would say.

Second, ever since the formation of the Left Front government in Bengal, Jyoti Basu, with his immense political sagacity, had been there to guide us all. This time around, Basu had stepped down as chief minister, and we had to face the elections with a new chief minister in place.

Third, the elections were held at a time when a sharply reactionary regime was in place in Delhi, a regime which makes little secret of its anti-left and anti-communist outlook. And for a stretch of time, there was a chance that the elections would finally get to be conducted under the tutelage of that regime.

Fourth, a powerful section of the corporate media which has traditionally helped Pradesh Congress and Trinamul Congress as a political force in Bengal, went all out this time to ensure that the alliance between the two Congresses became a reality, and then went on with a sustained campaign against the Left Front, pulling no punches anywhere along the line.

Fifth, I believe that on the eve of the polls, all the anti-Left forces joined hand in a pact to oust the Left Front from office and went in for a secret political detente among one another.

These, I would say, were the reasons why we had chosen to describe the polls as a "tough battle."

We had anticipated the battle ahead and had prepared ourselves for it.

First, on the question of the incumbency factor, we had identified the union government as the focus of the political and economic power of the state here in this country, and had clarified that it was not possible for a state government with its limitations to try and circumvent or surmount the national political and economic backdrop that was largely the handiwork of the BJP-led union government. In this connection, we had focused on the anti-people and especially anti-poor aspects of the union budget and had, in tandem, highlighted the not so - inconsiderable achievements of the Left Front government over the past inspite of manifold difficulties and challenges.

Second, following in the footsteps of such a political veteran as Jyoti Basu, the new chief minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee showed remarkable prowess in his political and administrative initiatives. Bhattacharjee could ensure that the popular trust in the Left Front government was never weakened in any manner. This was a remarkable achievement and this has certainly played a central role in Left Front’s winning the elections.

Third, in the backdrop of the secular-democratic heritage of Bengal, it was possible to profile the utterly reactionary character of not only the BJP-led union government but also of those forces who had clung to them as adjuncts. The Left had gone to the people with the message of warning against the danger emanating from the BJP-RSS combine and this has found a receptive welcome among the people, especially the middle classes and the intelligentsia. The results are reflected in the electoral success of the Left Front.

Fourth, despite the ill-gotten efforts of the corporate media to highlight the "inevitability" of the alliance of the two Congresses, the sudden transformation of the Trinamul-BJP combine into a Pradesh Congress-Trinamul Congress combine was not quite accepted by even their own supporters, not to speak of the people at large. We had identified the "new" alliance as one born out of opportunism and immorality.

The situation of violence created by the "new" alliance, and the attempt at glorifying the incidents of violence by a section of the media had terrorised the people no end. People could see that there was on one side of the electoral divide, the Left Front which would not be provoked and would continue with the slogan of development and peace, and on the other, they could perceive the "new" alliance which made little secret of its terror-tactics. The people were aware of the marginal fault lines visible on the achievements of the Left Front but they had also taken to heart the innate danger of the alternative scenario. The people voted in favour of the upholders of democratic norms. Even those families which had traditionally voted for the Pradesh Congress and the Trinamul Congress remained undecided—the cutting down of the vote-share of the Pradesh Congress from 25 per cent to nine per cent is a reflection of the evolving reality.

The drive of the Congress president to try and oust the Left from Bengal even at the cost of joining in an alliance of rank opportunism actually backfired and the Pradesh Congress stood to lose much of what remained of its political credibility. The corporate media went in for quoting a lot of arithmetics to "prove" how the "new" alliance would be a "success." As we have always said, politics are not governed by arithmetical formulae. The Vidhan Sabha elections are yet another proof of that view.

This is a reflection of the progressive left oriented thinking of the people of the state, and we are glad at the way things turned out for BJP in the end, winning not even a single seat and having to witness their vote-share go down.

For more than a year prior to the polls, attempts were being made to create disruption in the Bengal unit of the CPI (M). We had refused to be provoked and had made prodigious efforts at keeping the organization intact. A rigorous political campaign was undertaken so as to prevent, or rather, preempt any political confusion that might raise its ugly head. The drive was built around the updated party programme that was adopted at the Special Party Congress. A few of the leaders did desert the CPI (M), floated a new outfit and put up candidates in very many seats.

The realization had, by then, dawned among those who were at a loss initially, that deserting the ranks would but strengthen the position of the enemy. The state unit of the CPI (M) threw themselves as one into the task of winning the electoral battle. Those who had chosen to go astray could not create any impression among the people and got rejected in the polls. The events proved once again that if a communist party remains steadfast in its ideological moorings, no force can belittle or weaken it in any way.

We shall take the correct lessons from the working of the Left Front government in Bengal over the past two-and-a-half decades, and put them into practice. We are aware that the people expect more from us and that we have to work harder than ever to meet the people’s demands and wishes. We must take full heed of the criticism that may be directed at us; we have also to ensure that steps to tackle evolving problems are organised with alacrity. At the same time, we shall strive to communicate to the people that however progressive and pro-people a state government might be, it would not be possible for it to tear apart the functional limitations that exist as a stark reality in the present set up. Nor is it possible for a state administration to surmount the crises stalking the national scenario. We must desist from raising false hopes. We shall work relentlessly for the interest of the unemployed youth, in particular.

However, a developmental programme alone would not suffice. We need to unleash a mass initiative to coordinate with the efforts of the state Left Front government. The mass initiative shall strengthen the functioning of the government and shall undoubtedly contribute in a meaningful way to implementing the developmental measures. For this to be successful, we shall draw up a programme. The government has to proceed with consciousness as well as circumspection.

The electoral success is that of the Left Front and not of CPI (M) alone. We must view the role of the CPI (M) is this perspective. The way the CPI (M) workers had put in endless hours of endeavour has been unique, and praiseworthy. They worked as communist workers are expected to work. This was one of the expectations of them by the people. The people have chosen us once again and this has increased our responsibility manifold. Each CPI (M) worker must prove responsive to the hopes and aspirations of the people. Communists must remain firm on achieving their goals, however calculated the attempts are to make us get deflected from the path we had chosen. Each CPI (M) worker needs to renew the pledge to build himself/herself into a true communist, and remain impervious to all provocations and attacks.

Second, they must prove equal to the trust the people have reposed in them and they must behave accordingly.

Third, they must ensure that policies and programmes of the Left Front government are implemented with utmost sincerity.

Fourth, the CPI (M) workers must go through self-education, and enhance their level of political consciousness towards solidifying further the integrity of the CPI (M).

Fifth, in view of our enemies being active all the while to try and create social unrest, CPI (M) workers must carry out ceaseless endeavour to enhance social stability and amity.

Sixth, while the feelings of pride borne out of the electoral victory cannot be denied, communists must remember that we treat both victory and defeat with equanimity. A feeling of self-importance must not overwhelm us in the wake of the electoral success for this is sentiment that is antithetical to communist behaviour. A communist worker must strive sincerely to forge ties with both our supporters and with those who would not lend us their support. The most important task of the day for the CPI (M) workers is to forge strong ties with the mass of the people at every level.