The Kerala CPI on Monday added fuel to the already raging fire in the CPI(M) in the form of a heated debate in its central committee over errors in its tactics and strategies by describing as a strategic mistake the withdrawal of support for UPA1. The CPI’s criticism has come as part of the war between the two parties in the context of their congresses to be held early next year.
Speaking to newsmen at Manalur near Thrissur on Monday, Kerala CPI secretary Pannyan Raveendran said that the withdrawal of support for UPA 1 by the left had resulted in the loss of opportunity to claim its share in the achievements of the 2004-2009 Manmohan Singh Government.“The achievements of UPA 1 were also achievements of the left,” he said.
Pannyan, who had been engaged in a war of words with the CPI(M) leadership for the past one week over the communist party’s split of 1964 which led to the birth of the Marxist party, said that the left had not been able to convince the people of the reason for the withdrawal of support for the UPA and this had led to a huge fall in the left’s strength in the 15th lok Sabha.
left-watchers say that Pannyan’s criticism is sure to reflect in the debates in the ongoing CPI(M) central committee meeting where general secretary Prakash Karat is facing questions over the way he has been leading the party. The withdrawal of support for the UPA is one of the issues over which he has come under criticism, especially from the West Bengal lobby.
“The CPI leader is actually referring to the alleged immaturity the new leadership of the CPI(M) has been showing in responding to and dealing with crucial political situations. In that sense, his criticisms are roughly in tune with those raised by (CPI(M) Politbureau member) Sitaram Yechuri,” said a former State committee member of the CPI(M).
“It shows that the CPI is clearly but indirectly taking sides in the war going on within the CPI(M),” he said.