CPM prepares for ideological makeover

The CPI(M) is going for an ideological re-branding in bid to undo the recent electoral reverses and get a pan-Indian reach.

The CPI(M) is going for an ideological re-branding in bid to undo the recent electoral reverses and get a pan-Indian reach.

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Broadly comprising the party's aggressive positioning on three issues, the ideological document may have more to do with Latin American practices than Chinese communist ways that many West Bengal leaders are fond of.

Last time such a document was prepared was in 1992, triggered by the collapse of Soviet Union.

The new document will be adopted at the party congress to be held in Kerala early next year.

Bringing social justice to the core, offering policy alternatives in the face of "neo-liberal" economic policies that globalisation has ushered in and firming up the fight against imperialism will be at the heart of the ideological document, party leaders have told HT.

The issue of social justice coming to the fore is significant as it comes in the wake of party's failure to grow in north India despite "objective conditions" as well as Muslims deserting it in West Bengal.

Party believes that its inability to deal with the caste has come in the way of it remaining a predominant party in just three states-West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. The gaze on social justice also includes greater attention on the issues of tribals and minorities.

Party leaders explain that though it doesn't have strength to frame policies at the Centre, it should give concrete policy alternatives through the state governments it head.

And it seems the advocates of Chinese model of industrialisation will find it difficult to stick to their ideas after the party's inability in steering such an idea in West Bengal.