He admitted that “despite the neo-liberal predilections of the Congress-led government”, some of the measures like the NREGA, the Tribal Forest Rights Act, the increase in the minimum support price for rice and wheat, and the farm loan waiver, many of which were brought under the pressure of the Left parties, have had a positive impact on the people. “The Congress gained more support amongst the minorities who were keen to ensure that the BJP does not make a come back. The non-Congress, non-BJP parties were not seen as a viable alternative in most parts of the country and this accentuated the shift in minority support to the Congress,” he says.

Left at crossroads

While Karat admitted that projection of state-level alliances as a national alternative was a mistake, Sitaram Yechury in the lead editorial bluntly said “such an alternative cannot, obviously, be a cut and paste arrangement on the eve of elections. This can only emerge through sustained popular struggles. There are no short cuts.”

Of the pre-election Third Front, both the BSP, and the JD(S), which hosted the first public rally announcing the non-Congress, non-BJP combination in Karnataka, have decided to support the UPA. “Even before the results were announced, the TRS which was part of a non-Congress, non-BJP front in Andhra Pradesh, had joined the NDA. These developments have only confirmed the assessment made by the CPM Polit Bureau” about the Front’s lack of credibility, he said.

 On the setback suffered by the CPM, he said “this requires a serious self-critical introspection and review in order to identify the mistakes and shortcomings and to draw proper lessons. This is absolutely necessary to regain the support and confidence of those sections of the people who have been alienated from the Left and to further consolidate and expand its influence in the future.  This process has begun.”

... contd.