HVK Archives: Kerala CPM against supporting Cong-led Govt
Kerala CPM against supporting Cong-led Govt - The Observer
T K Devasla
()
March 7, 1998
Title: Kerala CPM against supporting Cong-led Govt
Author: T K Devasla
Publication: The Observer
Date: March 7, 1998
THE Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is
overwhelmingly against the idea of supporting the Congress to
form a non-Bharatiya Janata Party Government at the Centre.
The idea, put forth by party general secretary Harkishan Singh
Surjeet immediately after trends about the poll outcome were
known has been rejected by the party state secretariat. Leaders
of all shades in the party are opposed to the proposition since
an alliance with the Congress at the Centre will upset the
political equations in the State, where the Congress is still the
principal foe of the Left parties.
Party veteran E M S Namboodiripad had been opposing truck with
the Congress ever since Surjeet advocated the theory of helping
the Congress wherever the United Front was weak to take on the
BJP.
The senior CPM leader had intervened in the matter when Surjeet
made known his mind at Palakkad CPM State conference.
Though Namboodiripad was keen on preventing the BJP from coming
to the power, he did not think that the proper way to achieve was
not by aligning with the Congress.
Surjeet's statement coming at the fag end of the first day's
counting of votes had taken party leaders from the State by total
surprise. Many felt that he should not have rushed to the press
without consulting the fellow-Politburo members.
CPM State secretariat examined Surjeet's suggestion, came to the
conclusion that an alliance with the Congress was not in the
interest of the party in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura.
The Kerala Politburo members are understood to have expressed the
secretariat's views in the Politburo meeting held on Wednesday
and Thursday.
Left Democratic Front convenor and Politburo member V S
Achutanandan felt that such an arrangement would antagonise the
rank and file, who have been consistently following an anti-
Congress.
Even moderates like E K Nayanar thought that any alliance with
the Congress in New Delhi will create problems for the party in
the State, though he is keen to prevent the BJP march to Delhi.
Elucidating the subject in his weekly column in Deshab himani
Nayanar ruled out any possibility of supporting the Congress to
form a Government. Nayanar said though the CPM considered the BJP
capturing power at the Centre as the biggest threat to the
nation, the party could not compromise with the reactionary
policies and corrupt style of the Congress.
Nayanar said the Congress had pulled down the Gujral Government
with the hope of capturing power.
He alleged that Congress leader K Karunakaran had won from here
with tacit support from the BJP.
Back
Top
|
