The Left ultimatum to the UPA government on the nuclear controversy, put up for discussion at the CPI-M’s central committee that began its two day meet here on Wednesday, has prompted divisions in the Left party for the first time with members from West Bengal and Kerala within the apex decision making body against precipitating a mid-term poll on the issue.
They have cited lack of organisational preparedness as a key hurdle in facing snap polls, should the inflexible positions of both the UPA and the Left on the nuclear issue lead to a collapse of the ruling coalition. The stand has, for the first time, signalled opposition within against the tough stand adopted by party general secretary Prakash Karat. Of equal significance is the fact that the 85 member central committee has maximum representation from West Bengal and Kerala.
However, sources maintained that it was incorrect to interpret the division in terms of resistence to the Karat line. They said that while there was unequivocal opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal, some members felt that withdrawal of support might not be the best way to tackle the situation. The overall view, though, is that Karat’s view will ultimately prevail and the central committee on Thursday would, in all probability, back the “no further negotiations at the IAEA or face political consequences” stand.
Sources in the party told FE that CPI(M)’s Kerala secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has already conveyed to the politburo that the general mood in the state’s unit was against elections. West Bengal secretary Biman Bose too is clearly against a mid-term poll as well as the veteran leader Jyoti Basu had publicly given statements ruling out mid-term polls.
In Kerala, the party feels that the minorities’ sentiments against the Indo-US nuclear deal can win some votes. The acquittal of Abdul Nasar Madani and his tough posturing against the Indo-US deal has also given hope to the Kerala CPI(M). But its leaders concede that the number of Lok Sabha seats will only go down, given that the party already has 19 out of 20 seats. The intense intense factional war in the state unit is only expected to add to the slide.
The Bengal unit, on the other hand, is worried of a backlash from its own constituencies in the backdrop of Nandigram and Singur developments. Jyoti Basu’s consistent stand against an election signals the differences of opinion within the CPI(M) top brass over the issue of a mid-term poll.