The Rediff Special/E M S Namboodiripad
The Congress approach is to gain power by hook or crook. They
are ready to align with anybody to come to power.
Every week, E M S Namboodiripad delivers a homily on
the popular television channel Asianet. The Marxist patriarch,
who became the world's first democratically elected Communist head of government in
1959, is a shrewd observer of the Indian polity and we are happy to bring
you his observations.
This week I will deal with the present
political situation in the country in the wake of the Congress
Working Committee resolution to extend only issue-based support
to the Deve Gowda government and the CPI-M central committee
decision to oppose the government's economic policies. The
media has described the two resolutions as threats to the Deve Gowda
government. There are some basic differences between the two resolutions.
Barring a brief span, the Congress ruled the Centre and
most states for the last 50 years. The party, which has been thrown
out of power, has now lost its foundation in many states. In some
states where it is in power today even this foundation is on
the verge of collapse.
The Congress approach is to gain power by hook or crook. They
are ready to align with anybody to come to power. The party's
alliance with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and the Bahujan Samaj Party
in Uttar Pradesh are examples of this. The CWC decision to
review the unconditional support to the Deve Gowda government
is part of this strategy. The latest decision is part of a bargaining tactic.
The CPI-M, on the other hand, has from the very beginning opposed the
Deve Gowda government's economic policies. The party feels
the Deve Gowda government is merely following the Rao government's economic
policies. We had opposed the Rao government's policies
and we will continue to do so.
However, we have our reasons
to support the Deve Gowda government. We are glad the government
has accepted our demand for decentralisation of power. They have
agreed to transfer power, technical know-how and personnel
to the states and from the states to the local bodies.
Another reason why we support the United Front government is its foreign
policy. The government has considerably improved the country's
relations with Bangladesh, Nepal and
Sri Lanka. The government is also striving to improve relations
with China and Russia.
We consider the government's survival in the best interests of the nation. The foreign
policy followed by this government is better than that of the
Rao government. We do not think our approach -- supporting the
government on one hand and opposing its incorrect policies on the other --
will lead to any conflict.
Our main concern is how to solve the basic problems of the people.
The CPI-M is a revolutionary democratic movement which stands for
the upliftment of the working class along with agricultural and industrial
development. We consider our support to the UF government
the first step towards the unity of secular and democratic
forces in the country. We are committed to India's
economic, social and political development.
The Congress's main concern is power. They are prepared
to adopt any means to gain power. Although the Congress is ready
to go to any extent to topple the government, I do not think it
has the strength to do so. As long as the party remains divided
-- the attempt by each group to gain supremacy over the other; the
running battle between Rao and
Kesri -- it is not possible.
Had the party stood united, the Deve Gowda government
could easily have been brought down, but as long as the leaders
fight among themselves it is not possible. The Congress at present does
not have the strength to topple the government, so there is no meaning
in the interpretation that the latest CWC resolution paves the
way for the exit of the Deve Gowda government. The Congress is too
weak to topple the government.
Under the circumstances it is the responsibility of the CPI-M
and other Left parties to keep the government in the saddle. In case
the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party try to bring down
the government, the CPI-M and the Left parties are confident
that they will defeat it. The Congress is not in a position to resist
such a move. This is the sum total of the present political situation
in the country.
Kind courtesy: Asianet
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