People's Democracy

THE CPI(M) had declared the withdrawal of its support to the Democratic Front (DF) state government of Maharashtra in December 2001 itself. One reason for this decision was the government's failure to provide minimum relief to large sections of the working people even within the constraints of the anti-people economic policy of globalisation adopted by the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The second reason was the contemptuous treatment meted out by the DF regime to its Left constituent parties.

During the last five months, there has been no improvement on both these counts, and hence the earlier stand of the CPI(M) remains unchanged. In fact, during the recently held local body elections in districts like Raigad and others, the ruling combine went to the extent of making unprincipled and opportunistic compromises with communal parties like the Shiv Sena and the BJP.

But the question of policies is not involved in the current political crisis in the state. The main issue in the June 13 confidence vote is whether the present democratic front regime will survive or whether it will be replaced by a government of the SS-BJP communal alliance. Although the CPI(M) has withdrawn support to the regime, it had declared at the same time that it would take care to see that this step would not help the communal alliance in any way. Meanwhile, the horrifying communal carnage in Gujarat and the role played in it by the BJP state government of Gujarat and by the BJP rulers at the centre, has exposed the grave danger to national unity and democracy from the communal forces.

In this background, it would not be proper for the left and secular parties to take any step that would result in bringing a communal regime to power in Maharashtra. Hence, while the CPI(M) opposition to the DF state government’s policies continues, the CPI(M) state secretariat has directed the party’s MLAs to vote in favour of the confidence vote on June 13. Taking note of the growing danger of communalism, the CPI(M) expects that other left and secular parties will also take the same stand.