CPI (M) is planning to form a third front in view of the forthcoming Loksabha election. Some sort of understanding in this direction has been arrived at the 19^th Party Congress concluded recently at Anil Bishwas Nagar, Coimbatore. The decision to have a third front was also deliberated in detail during the 18^th Party Congress held in New Delhi. However, no decision was taken in this direction due to the support extended to UPA Government at the Centre.   Now the scenario is different because the general election is going to be held very shortly, which prompted CPI (M) to form a third front considering the difference of opinions on various issues with the Congress.

 

As envisaged in the last Party Congress, the formation of a third front would not be a marriage of convenience to fulfill the emerging issues of national importance. This point was clarified in detail and thus based on a common minimum programme, it was decided to fight out the concerned issues through mass movements and awareness programmes at various levels. 

 

As per the Agenda declared in Party Congress, it was stated that there was a necessity to form a third front based on the policies passed by the party so as to counter the Congress and BJP during the ensuing national election. Further, it states that the left parties should initiate a formation of new front and exuded their confidence in introducing certain alternative policies successfully by keeping certain unilateral decisions of Congress Party and making firm commitments and clarifications thereby forcing the UPA Government to find an acceptable formula and discuss it out in joint meetings. Such attempts on the part of CPI (M) might create new alignments, which in turn would enable the party to have a union of like minded parties to work together against the major national parties – Congress and BJP. By creating an atmosphere of resistance, the Party plans to have electoral alliance with other political parties at an appropriate time.

 

As regards future political alliance, the Party Congress clarified that the party is not going to enter into any understanding or alliance with the Congress Party or groups. Inaugurating the Party Congress, CPI (M) General Secretary, Prakash Karat told that a need has arisen to a third front. However, it would be formed after considering the past experience and achievements. Though his remarks regarding the continuation of relationship with UPA, his speech was misquoted in certain media reports, while he is supporting the Party line and has accepted and affirmed the formation of third front in principle. By concentrating the energy to have such a front, it aims to give a direction in national politics and strengthen and enlarge its presence amongst cross sections of the society at national level.

 

CPI (M) hopes to bring together the parties which may not support both Congress and BJP, since UNPA headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav having the constituents such as S.P., TDP, AGP, INLD, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha etc., and therefore, thinking line of the Party is to keep an equal-distance with Congress and BJP, wherein only AIDMK is the mismatch, as it has separated at the last moment from this alliance. And there is a probability that AIDMK may enter into an alliance with BJP. As SP, TDP and AGP are having strong foundations in their respective states, they are thinking to have a future alliance with leftist group.

 

During the 19^th Congress, it came to the definite conclusion that Congress is being considered as a secular, capitalist party ashamed of strongly countering the communal parties. As regards the assessment of BJP, it is considered as the most autocratic, communal and regressive party in Indian politics and thus CPI (M) is committed to isolate the defeat BJP through systematic campaigning and exposing their hidden agenda.

 

Party Congress also assessed the strategy being adopted by BJP to encash the discontent and dissatisfaction of the Congress Party at the Centre and States ruled by it in view of their haphazard policies. The political resolution introduced in the Congress states as under :-

 

“BJP scored victory by making an alliance with Janta Dal (U) in Bihar, Akali Dal in Punjab. Further, they could defeat Congress in Uttar Khand and HP and retain third consecutive victory in the State of Gujarat. And also they could rule Karnataka for the first time and remain in power for 20 months through an alliance with the State level party. BJP may try to come back by entering into an alliance with like minded local parties in different states in view of the growing discontentment of the people on various issues and the policies pursued by the Congress Governments at Centre and States ruled by it. Therefore, the forthcoming election and its results in the States such as Rajasthan, M.P. and Chhhaitsgarh are quite important.”

 

BJP is trying to raise communal issues and exploiting various opportunities to make the strides in its favour. It is going back to the aggressive communal agenda and once again raising issues like construction of Ram temple, Uniform Civil Code, Exclusion of Section 307 from the Constitution etc. The Party assessed the followings as the examples of communal politics pursued by BJP :

 

1.                  Compulsory recitation of ‘Vande Mataram’ in Schools.

2.                  To give capital punishment to Afzal Guru, who is considered as the

Master mind behind Parliament attack.

3.                  To oppose the Sachar Committee recommendations.

4.                  To oppose the ‘Setu Sea Project’ by raising the issue of “Ram Setu”.

 

Though BJP has not succeeded in exploiting the religious sentiments of the people, there is a possibility to mix-up the dissatisfaction of the people and their financial hardships and divert it to make political gain by highlighting the failures of UPA government in the coming election. 

 

While CPI (M) is concerned with the growth of BJP, the NDA formed under its leadership is gradually disintegrating. This is because after the Loksabha election in 2004, AGP and National Conference broke away from NDA and TPD withdrawn from the alliance. As such NDA has lost its relevance in the present context. CPI(M) may not keep any relation with the regional parties having tie-up with BJP, but it would try to have alliance with other regional parties which oppose BJP. Therefore, CPI(M) observes the political scenario as under :

 

“BSP has emerged as the most powerful party after the state election in U.P. It is trying to consolidate its vote share by assiduously following the caste politics. Further, it is trying to experiment the combination of caste based politics in other States too. There may have an influence in certain parts of eastern and western parts of the country. Though they did not have entered into any alliance with other parties, it may be an important factor in the States like M.P., Delhi etc.

 

The third front being visualized by CPI (M) Party congress would be entirely anti-communal. Karat reminded that our secular, democratic views are just opposite to the Hindu communalism pursued by BJP. In this context, he borrowed the words of Jawaharlal Nehru :

 

While thinking over for forming a third alliance, it also lays emphasis on certain eligibilities for the parties who may be accommodated in it in future. These are the policies in respect of economy, social justice, independent foreign policy etc. 

 

Further, the Party Congress exhorted that it would not entertain the opportunistic parties to take advantage of the emerging political scenario. It severely criticized the policies being adopted by the partners of UNPA alliance.

 

As regards the assessment of the performance of Congress led UPA, it presented a grim picture. While mentioning the political performance of Congress Party, CPI (M) Congress observed as under :

 

            Their performance was worst as regards UP is concerned. The results came from Assam

 Parties to come into power. As such the UPA Government and Congress Party is gradually losing the faith and support of the people.”

 

CPI (M) Congress also criticized the foreign policies being adopted towards USA and slipping away from the common minimum programme of UPA. The strong opposition of the party towards the Indo-US Nuclear Treaty also highlighted the views and policy adopted by the party and thus a fravourable popular opinion as created at national level. It considers that any success in this front would be a strategic success for America to make India as a partner in its global nuclear policy.

 

Party Congress is quite satisfied with the success achieved in this respect, as it feels that it is because of its strong opposition, India could not sign the treaty, though Congress insists that it should be signed. Pressure is being built up by America on the rulers of UPA to sign the nuclear treaty on the one hand and the signing of the treaty is favoured by Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, even if UPA Government falls due to the withdrawal of the support from left parties made the situation quite piquant and complex. And hence, there is a possibility that the Government may fall any time and thus the next general election may be scheduled to be held in the month of September ’08.

 

As Sonia Gandhi has warned that the general election will be held within six months, there is a hectic activity in Congress circles. The mass contact programmes being taken up by Rahul Gandhi in different states and the programmes taken up by Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi indicates the probability of an early election. Further, the declaration of Finance Minister in Parliament that this would be the last budget also made the apprehension quite strong.

 

BJP is also making last minute make-ups to face the coming election and s a part of this, they announced the candidature of Advani as the future Prime Minister. He has started touring different states to activate the workers and face the election confidently. 

 

The Chairman of UNPA, Mulayam Singh has also started election oriented activities by giving olive branches to the like minded parties to make the alliance stronger. If the present trend continues, the left parties may joining with him for the national election. An apprehension in respect of difference of opinion amongst the left parties has created a doubt whether they will be united for such an attempt and therefore, the Party resolution underscores the following points :-

 

 

The difference of opinions has cropped up in left parties due to industrialization policy in West Bengal, the incidents at Singur and Nandigram. Forward Block and RSP severely criticized CPI (M). However, the election result in Tripura went in favour of CPI(M), though one of its constituents, Forward Block contested the election independently. In view of spectacular victory of CPI(M) in Tripura, there is a feeling amongst the left parties that they should face the election unitedly. However, the merger of CPI and CPI(M) has not been taken up for discussion in the congress. 

 

The approval to form a Third Front in 19^th Party Congress is a strategy to work as an alternate force against BJP and Congress in the ensuing election. They are going to organize mass movements highlighting the burning issues such as the importance of unity and integrity of the country, to resist the neo-liberal policies, oppose the communal forces and also the imperialistic policies of America to make India as its strategic partner etc. When BJP and Congress are approaching the people with election oriented manifestos on various issues, CPI (M) may try to forge a third front and make it as a success through mass struggles and movements to achieve the maximum political advant6age in the current scenario. They shall also highlight the failures of BJP and Congress on one hand and achievement made due to the tie-up with Congress as a supporting partner of UPA Government on other hand. Their other strong weapons re the anti-people policies of the Congress and the politics of communalism pursued consistently by BJP.

 

They visualize the return of Third Front as the ruling party after the forthcoming general election, considering the existing social and economic conditions in our country. However, the leaders of Third Front and Former Prime Ministers VP Singh and Dev Gowda may not be with them, as Gowda is supporting BJP and VP is siding with Congress. CPI (M) may not claim the position of Prime Minister, in case third front wins the election, as it feels that unless and until there is no majority on its own, to make a claim for Prime Minister is a futile attempt.

 

The 19^th Party Congress concluded with a strong resolution that they would keep up the struggle for a united secular India and fight against the class exploitation and also the oppression of weaker sections and further it would try for the upliftment of the social conditions of the common man including providing social justice to the teeming millions.