Opinion Alternative front

Alternative front The Left,particularly the CPM,believed that the formation of the Third Front was not possible before the next Lok Sabha elections. The JD(U)-BJP split and talk of the Federal Front has not forced them to alter their position. Moving cautiously,the party only mentioned an alternative policy trajectory,for which it is seeking support of non-Congress,non-BJP […]

June 26, 2013 04:58 AM IST First published on: Jun 26, 2013 at 04:58 AM IST

Alternative front

The Left,particularly the CPM,believed that the formation of the Third Front was not possible before the next Lok Sabha elections. The JD(U)-BJP split and talk of the Federal Front has not forced them to alter their position. Moving cautiously,the party only mentioned an alternative policy trajectory,for which it is seeking support of non-Congress,non-BJP parties. The current political churning,an editorial in the CPMs Peoples Democracy argues,is completely alienated from the concerns of the vast majority; any relief for the people will only be forthcoming when the current neo-liberal policy trajectory is replaced with a pro-people policy trajectory. It is equally clear that such an alternative policy trajectory is beyond both the Congress and the BJP given the commitment of both to neo-liberal economic reforms

and proximity to US imperialism. Thus,such an alternative policy trajectory will necessarily have to be evolved in political opposition to both the Congress and the BJP,it says. The editorial mentions the national political convention the Left has convened on July 1 to discuss and adopt a declaration containing the Left Parties approach towards an alternative policy direction.

Development disaster

The CPI(ML)s ML Update discussed the calamity in Uttarakhand and the politicisation of the tragedy. While frantic rescue efforts are being conducted by the armed forces,an editorial in the weekly argues that Indias ruling class politics has cut a sorry figure due to the drama of one-upmanship. It further says that Narendra Modis claims of rescuing 15,000 Gujaratis are not only unsubstantiated,but they also stand in contrast to the modesty of those on the ground,and are an unfortunate display of regionalism. The editorial goes on to say,The helicopter trips by various political VIPs and photo ops by Congress and UPA leaders flagging-off relief trucks are no less unseemly. The editorial asserts that the disaster is man-made,an argument also made by the CPIs New Age. The inescapable fact of the matter is that both the BJP and the Congress that have ruled Uttarakhand and the Centre are implicated in this disaster. To call it a natural disaster is only a half-truth. The unfolding tragedy of Himalayan proportions has been caused by decades of criminal policies of plundering hills and rivers in the name of development,the

ML Update says.

Reshuffle kerfuffle

An article in New Age discusses the recent cabinet reshuffle,including the age of the new ministers. The UPA-II in its recent cabinet reshuffle has fulfilled the aspirations of those who have lost all hope of being included in the last Dilli-Darbar with the expectation that the fading stars may garner votes in the coming assembly polls and later in the parliamentary polls of 2014, it says. The article also observes that the so-called Rahul brigade has been completely ignored or adjusted within the organisation. The so-called cabinet reshuffle which was meant to give fresh life to the down-hill journey of the grand old party proved to be a sham and is not going to add vigour and vitality to UPA-II at a time when the government is facing an uphill task to regain the lost ground,it concludes.