Rubbing salt into the CPM's wounds, the CPI after reviewing the election results has concluded that the big brother's "unilateral" style of functioning in Kerala and West Bengal was a reason for the Left's downfall. This attitude should end and the relationship among Left parties should be based on "equality", it felt.

The CPI also differed with the CPM on the timing and the issue chosen to withdraw support to the UPA. Contrary to the CPM's view that breaking ties with the Congress on the nuclear deal was "correct", the CPI National Executive has taken a view that the pullout should have been on "livelihood" issues and done much earlier.

"The Left Front in both Kerala and West Bengal was not properly functioning as a front. There was unilateralism in its functioning," CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said, counting it as one of the reasons for the defeat after the three-day meeting of the party's National Executive and Council.

The veteran did not mince words in training his guns at the CPM. Asked whether he was referring to the CPM by saying there was "unilateralism" in the Left Front, he said "whoever is the largest party, it is its responsibility to ensure that the front is run properly".

"We have been seeing and witnessing it. There is no hiding it. It is true. The Left Front is a front of all Left parties. It has to be run collectively. It is obvious that it is not the RSP or the Forward Bloc, which is responsible for this (for running the front). Nor is the CPI," he said.

... contd.