People's Democracy

PRAKASH KARAT PILOTS THE DRAFT POLITICAL RESOLUTION AT 20TH CONGRESS

‘We will Overcome

and Emerge Stronger’

N S Arjun

AFTER the inaugural session on April 4, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat introduced the draft Political Resolution and the draft Political Review Report. The draft Political Review Report covers the implementation of political-tactical line since the 19th Congress in 2008.

Among the major questions the draft Political Review Report took up included withdrawal of support to the UPA government in July 2008, the electoral-tactical line pursued during 2009 Lok Sabha polls and the political line formulated in the extended Central Committee meeting in Vijayawada in August 2010 to meet the new situation after the Lok Sabha polls, the review of Bengal and Kerala assembly elections etc.

Karat said the draft Review Report concluded that it was correct to withdraw support to the UPA government over India-US Nuclear Deal and there was no other option. However, the Party could not succeed in making it an electoral issue among people. On the question of timing of withdrawal of support, the Report concludes that it would have been better if the decision to withdraw support was taken in October-November 2007 itself when the UPA government wanted to proceed to IAEA for negotiations. Not doing so at that time was wrong.

Having already come to the conclusion that the Nuclear Deal, which was a central part of the overall strategic alliance with US, cannot be allowed while we are supporting the UPA government, it was decided that it must be stopped even if we have to withdraw support. After initially deciding to force the issue at point of India going to IAEA, we relented on this issue and postponed the confrontation. The idea behind this was to gain some time to go amongst the people and prepare them for mid-term polls. Another factor that played a part was the serious situation developing in Bengal, where panchayat elections were scheduled to be held in a few months.

Later on, banking on the promises of the highest leadership of the Congress party and the UPA government, the Party leadership had come to an erroneous conclusion that the Nuclear Deal was successfully stopped during January- May, 2008. This was also reflected in the Political Resolution of 19th Party Congress. Karat underlined that this was because of under-estimation of the ruling classes’ and US imperialism’s determination to pursue the deal and over-estimation of Party’s strength and capacity to influence events.

Reviewing the electoral tactics adopted for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Karat made two points. One, it was correct to rally all non-Congress and non-BJP political parties against UPA and NDA. This ensured that NDA does not get any significant allies in states like Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. Two, it was wrong to raise the slogan of formation of an alternative secular government at the centre because there were only state level alliances, that too in just three or four states. It was also felt that the UPA had gained legitimacy due to the support extended by the Left. It could also politically encash measures like NREGA, Forest Rights Act that were taken up due to pressure of the Left.

Karat said that a new situation arose after the 2009 Lok Sabha polls with setbacks for the Left in the states of Bengal and Kerala. Attacks were intensified in Bengal. In such a situation, an extended meeting of the Central Committee was held in Vijayawada in August 2010 to formulate a new tactical line. Unlike in the political-tactical line set out in the 19th Congress, this new line called for opposing UPA government and defeating the Congress, apart from ensuring defeat of BJP and NDA. It also called for a nationwide solidarity campaign in defence of Party in Bengal.

Karat said that elections to state assemblies in Bengal and Kerala were a crucial battle for the Party. The Party and the Left as a whole is weakened with loss of power in Bengal after 34 years of rule and the narrow loss in Kerala. These results had important repercussions nationwide. As for why the Party lost in Bengal, the draft Review Report listed some important reasons, among which included land acquisition and corrosive effect of 34 years of being in power. Karat felt that land acquisition in context of loot of land under neoliberal regime has become a question on which there were widespread apprehensions among farmers and this aspect was missed by the Party. Consequently, there was alienation from the Left. He underlined the need to correct the distortions and orient the Party to go among people and regain their support. This is necessary to fight and resist the growing attacks on the Left in the state.

In Kerala, the Left lost narrowly in electoral terms but importantly there was no anti-incumbency factor against the LDF government. The disunity in the Party and the LDF witnessed in the Lok Sabha polls was absent in the assembly elections. Among the causes for the narrow loss included some losing of ground among Muslims in Mallapuram district and the organisational issues in seats which we lost by slender margins.

Noting that the performance of the Party in assembly elections in various other states has been poor, Karat said it indicated that the Party has not made progress in states apart from Bengal, Tripura and Kerala. The only exception was Rajasthan. The Review Report showed that we could not conduct struggles on local issues in a sustained manner. And in states where such struggles had been conducted, like in Andhra Pradesh, the Party could not consolidate them. Karat stressed the need for undertaking political-ideological work amongst masses who are brought into struggles in order to consolidate them. He called for concrete study and analysis of the changes taking place among various classes after two decades of liberalisation before identifying and taking up issues. Unless this is done, our slogan of fighting against neo-liberalism will remain abstract and we cannot progress, he said.

Prakash Karat said that it has been emphasised in the last three Party Congresses to take up social oppression issues side by side with class issues because underpinning caste oppression is the class exploitation. It was stressed that this task must not be left to mass organisations alone but must become part of Party's platform. The Review showed that except for some progress in Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh, by and large the Party has failed in this task. The most weakness in this aspect remained with Hindi-speaking states. Karat stressed that unless Party takes up these issues, identity politics, which is already grown and entrenched in our country, will flourish among these sections.

Advising not to see Hindutva danger only in electoral terms, Karat stressed that fighting communalism is one of the main tasks. The Hindutva forces are conducting round the clock activity in social, cultural and educational fronts to take their ideology among people. While combating communalism, this factor must be kept in mind and we should also intervene culturally, he said.

DRAFT POLITICAL

RESOLUTION

Coming to the draft Political Resolution, Karat first dealt with international issues. Terming the recent global economic crisis as the worst since the 1930s Great Depression, he said the impact of this crisis is felt the most in the advanced capitalist countries. Although struggles and movements are taking place in these countries, one need not be euphoric about these because there is no Left-wing political alternative force in these countries. And in most countries, Right-wing governments are coming to power. However, the most positive developments in the world are taking place in Latin America where the Left is advancing, gaining politically and building on the progress. He cited the developments in Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia in this context.

Although United States has suffered economically due to the crisis and is in a long term phase of decline, there is no let up in its aggressive moves. After the aggression on Libya, it is now focussing on Syria with ultimate target being Iran. By targeting regimes inimical to it, US is trying to sidetrack the uprisings in West Asia, said Karat. Another feature he noted was the pronounced strengthening of multipolarity in the world. Although muted presently, the inter-imperialist contradictions are likely to grow in the future. Also the contradiction between imperialism and people in third world countries and between ruling regimes in developing countries and its peoples are also bound to intensify.

Coming to South Asia region, Karat noted India’s improved relations with Bangladesh and the big transformation in Nepal. Although there is a stalemate in Nepal on how to proceed further, he hoped that some solution would be found and the change institutionalised. As for Pakistan, the rise of fundamentalist terrorist forces in the country presents a bleak picture. There are growing strains between Pakistan government and US. He noted that the civilian government in Pakistan is trying to improve ties with India. Karat said the Sri Lankan government was not seriously pursuing political settlement, which is necessary for a lasting solution. There is no rehabilitation or justice to victims of serious violations of human rights during the war against LTTE.

NATIONAL

SITUATION

Karat said the main thrust of the draft Political Resolution is against the UPA government’s economic policies and how they were impacting various sections of people and various social sectors like education, health etc. An outcome of these policies has been the emergence of corruption that is different from earlier forms. This corruption becomes integral to the loot and accumulation that is being facilitated by the UPA-II government through its policies. Terming the Manmohan Singh government as a directionless one which is mired in paralysis, he felt that the image of the government has gone down substantially compared to post 2009 election victory.  Although the UPA alliance is weakened, it continues in office because nobody is keen for a mid-term election.

The BJP could not recover from the second setback in 2009 Lok Sabha polls, despite RSS trying to help it in overcoming the disarray. NDA as a political alliance has not grown with many anti-Congress parties preferring to stay away from the BJP. Karat said that still BJP cannot be under-estimated as it is strong in around seven states.

Regional parties, which represent the interests of regional bourgeoisie, have mass base in the states where they function. The CPI(M)’s approach is to have joint actions with these parties on issues.

As for the CPI(M) and the Left, the period since the last Party Congress has seen its position weakened. The central question before the Party is how to increase its independent strength. How to recover the lost ground in Bengal and go forward while countering the attacks through mobilisation of people is also an important aspect, said Karat. Similarly, in Kerala also we need to overcome the weaknesses and rope in those who are outside our fold. As for Tripura, he said the solid achievements of the Left Front government are standing out as eyesore for the ruling classes. After the Bengal assembly elections, Congress and reactionary forces are making serious efforts to undermine the Left Front government in Tripura through all means. He expressed confidence that the Left Front will overcome these manoeuvres and emerge victorious in next year’s elections to the state assembly.

The Party’s political line in the coming days must be such that it enables us in achieving the crucial task of increasing the Party’s independent strength, said Karat. The Party must fight and defeat the Congress, isolate the BJP and work for emergence of a Left and democratic alternative. Only such an alternative that will be forged by building movements on a Left and democratic platform can be a real alternative to bourgeois-landlord rule. While making efforts to rally the Left and democratic forces towards such an alternative, it may be required to coordinate with some of the non-Congress and non-BJP secular parties on issues. He clarified that there must be no illusions that this coordination can be elevated to the level of a programme-based third alternative. Real alternative can be built only by strengthening and intensifying struggles against neo-liberal policies.

In conclusion, Karat said that the Party has suffered severe losses, lost valuable comrades in attacks by reactionary forces only because of its consistent fight against imperialism and neo-liberal policies. But the last six months of holding Party conferences right from branch level onwards has shown how the Party is coming to grips with the situation. Bengal unit, which has faced innumerable attacks and semi-fascist terror of the seventies, is steeled to overcome the present situation. This was evident in the state conference and the open rally held in Brigade grounds on that occasion, he said. In Kerala, lakhs of people have participated in the run up activity to the Party Congress. The situation in Tripura is favourable due to the achievements of the state government. “The Party is imbued with the confidence that we will overcome and emerge stronger”, so saying he placed the draft Political Resolution to the 20th Congress.

DISCUSSION

AND REPLY

Before the discussion began, Prakash Karat placed a report on Pre-Congress amendments to the draft Political Resolution. A total of 3713 amendments and 487 suggestions were received. He said this showed the active participation of Party units and members at all levels in the formulation of the political-tactical line. As usual the largest number of amendments came from West Bengal followed by Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. There are relatively more amendments and suggestions from Party supporters and sympathisers than in the past, he said. Out of these, 163 amendments were accepted. Among these, 77 were of technical nature.

The discussion began on the morning of April 5. A total of 47 delegates took part in the discussion that lasted for a duration of 6 hours and 10 minutes. All the delegates who spoke broadly endorsed the political-tactical line put forward in the Report and enriched it further with their contributions. Everyone expressed their solidarity with the fighting comrades of Bengal and asserted that they will overcome the tough situation.

Many stressed the imperative of conducting sustained, decisive struggles on local issues for strengthening and expanding the Party. Many also highlighted the need to take up social issues by the Party. This would also counter the growing influence of identity politics among these sections. Some expressed dissatisfaction at the lack of sustained all India struggle on the very grave agrarian crisis confronting the nation and wanted this rectified in the coming period. We must also identify arenas of struggle outside traditional areas in order to bring in larger sections of people into movement. The issue of corruption was catching the imagination of people, particularly in North India, and the Party must fight against this in a more pro-active manner, felt some delegates. A few delegates spoke of their state units’ experience of working with regional parties and stressed the need to strengthen Left unity in going towards building a Left and Democratic alternative. The need to place greater emphasis on extra parliamentary struggles was also emphasised by some delegates.

Replying to the discussion on the morning of April 6, Prakash Karat endorsed, clarified and refuted some of the points that came up from the delegates. He said the key task before the Party is to increase the independent strength and role of the Party in the coming days. He said we cannot afford the luxury of depending on three strong states and need to get down to building a strong Party. We need to orient our Party to struggles. Recovery in Bengal will be crucial in going forward in this task, he said. Karat felt the Political Resolution once adopted by the Congress will give the necessary direction and equip the Party in accomplishing the task.

After Prakash Karat gave a report on the amendments received from delegates and observers in the Congress, both the draft Political Review Report and the draft Political Resolution were put to vote for adoption by the presidium. Both were overwhelmingly adopted by the 20th Congress with just two votes against and two abstentions. It was a culmination of a long, collective, democratic  exercise in formulating the politica-tactical line of the Party for the coming period of three years.