One of the reasons flagged by the CPM central committee for the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha poll was the “bureaucratic attitude and arrogance” of cadres. The CPI’s AB Bardhan has now picked up the thread, and taken Left soul-searching a big step forward.

In an interview to The Indian Express ahead of the CPI’s official stocktaking at its National Council meeting July 3-5, General Secretary Bardhan lamented the alienation of the people under Left rule in West Bengal and Kerala on account of the cadres’ “lifestyle, behaviour and approach”, their “arrogance and bossism”, and their “tendency to interfere” in the lives of the people.

“In the course of that (Left rule), the behaviour and lifestyle of cadres has altered considerably. Communist modesty, communist simplicity gave way to arrogance and bossism. And the tendency to interfere in all aspects of life of the common people — even in a club, even a school committee. This has caused resentment in the people,” Bardhan said.

It is a matter the CPI has raised with the CPM before, Bardhan said. He also said that the onus of change must lie primarily with the CPM, the largest partner in the Left Fronts that rule Bengal and Kerala.

“Left unity is a must. And all of us have to change and correct ourselves. But the bigger party has to change the most.”

Bardhan does not, however, let the CPI off completely. “To a much smaller extent this could be seen in cadres of other Left parties,” he said. “They were not regarded as the bosses in social and political life”.

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