The Maoists in Nepal, who are about to run a coalition government in the country after emerging as the single largest party in the recent General Elections, are eager to study the Left Front?s experiences in running governments in Kerala and West Bengal.
The Maoist leadership has discussed this with CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury and evinced interest to visit Kerala and West Bengal to study how the CPI(M) led governments use the ?existing system for social change?.
According to CPI(M) sources, the Maoists have shown a ?special interest? in studying the ?Kerala model of development?. ?They wanted to study how Kerala remained top in all social indicators like health, literacy and education. They also felt that Kerala could well be a model on issues like implementation of land reforms and building public health infrastructure,? sources said.
Meanwhile, Yechury completed a two-day visit in the neighbouring country on Friday. During the visit, he met senior Maoist functionaries including Pushpa Kumar Dahal (Prachanda), Baburam Bhattarai and CP Gajurel. He also held discussions with senior political leadership in the country including Prime Minister GP Koirala and CPN(UMAL) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.
There other reason for the Maoists? interest was that the first ?coalition ministry? in the history of India was experimented in Kerala that too led by the CPI(M). Former CPI(M) general secretary EMS Namboodiripad was the chief minister of a coalition government comprising seven parties in second half of 1960s. ?In Nepal also the Maoists are about to head a seven-party coalition ministry,? Left sources said.
The Maoists had already made it clear that for economic development of the poor country, they are ready to take the ?capitalist path?.
The CPI(M)?s newfound love with the Maoists and Yechury?s active involvement to bring the CPN(M) to the mainstream has also to be considered as an interesting development. The CPI(M) has a long-standing relation with the CPN(UML). Now it has to be watched that whether the Marxists will invite the Maoists for their conferences or other events. The CPI(M) has already supported Prachanda?s demand of scrapping the 1950 treaty between India and Nepal.