Opinion ‘In difficult times,the Communists will have to show revolutionary optimism’

This is the 11th international meeting of the Communist and Workers Parties. It is being held in India for the first time. And it comes against the backdrop of the global recession,which has once again shown that capitalist economy is a crisis-ridden economy and crisis is in its inherent nature. So the question is,what is the alternative? We strongly believe that socialism is the genuine alternative.

But socialism as an economic and political model had failed,and we have seen it in Soviet Union and eastern Europe?

It is true that the model of socialism suffered setbacks and reverses in the Soviet Union. But that doesn’t mean that socialism will suffer the same fate in other countries. What happened in Soviet Union doesn’t necessarily happen in other countries.

How can you advocate socialism when it has already proved to be a failure?

The basic feature of socialism,which is welfare of the people,has not failed. The ideology of socialism is still relevant. In Soviet Union it happened because of some other reasons like the role of the state and contradictions in the political structure.

How can it succeed in India?

In India,we will have to apply the ideology according to our specific conditions. There are some unique features in India. We will have to keep in mind aspects like economic exploitation and social discrimination that still exists in several states. We cannot simply copy the Soviet model. We can only draw lessons from it.

The meeting also comes at a time when Left in India is at a crossroads. The communists have suffered serious electoral reverses and the Left’s base is eroding very fast.

We are in a parliamentary democracy and elections are a regular feature. Setbacks in one or two elections do not mean the end of ideology.

But how can you wish away the fact that the Left’s base is shrinking across the country as was evident in the electoral results? The Left is also not able to move with the changing times and gauge the electoral significance of the rising middle-class.

It is right. There is a gap between the political influence of the Left and its actual electoral performance. We are trying to bridge that gap. It is true that the middle class is increasingly influencing public opinion and government policies. We have been trying to politicise the middle class,which is driven by consumerism and careerism. The market is dictating the terms. We need to raise the level of social consciousness of the middle class.

The Left is facing its worst-ever crisis in Bengal. What has gone wrong?

It is true that we are facing a very adverse situation in Bengal. The Left Front will have to take corrective measures before the next Assembly elections. There should be a change in the style of government functioning and in matters like economic policy. For example,the Singur land question has to be sorted out fast. The Left Front will have to function collectively. There should be mutual trust and all the constituents will have to be taken into confidence during decision-making.

What changes do you want in the functioning style of the chief minister? And how much is the CPM responsible for the reverses?

The style of functioning of the government as a whole needs to be changed. Some of the policies have not gone down well with the people. We are not talking about any individual or any party. the government has collective responsibility. There must be a change and we hope there will be a change.

Do you feel that a leadership change in West Bengal will help turn the situation around?

Right now,these are not the issues to be discussed. The need of the hour is to change the style of functioning to win back the confidence of the people. The government’s functioning style has not gone down well, as we have seen during Singur and Nandigram.

Several Left leaders,including some CPM ministers,are now openly saying that Trinamool Congress is set to come to power in 2011 and the Assembly elections should be advanced.Does the CPI share the same perception?

There is no need to advance the elections. I accept that Trinamool Congress is a challenge for the Left. After all it is the main Opposition party. But we should be optimistic and confident. We will have to fight. As Antonio Gramsci has said,in times of difficulties,the Communists will have to show revolutionary optimism.