In Left autopsy, Karat sees signs of life

Don't write off the Left yet, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said after Monday's soul-searching following the party's humiliation in West Bengal and Kerala. Jayanth Jacob reports.

Don't write off the Left yet, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said after Monday's soul-searching following the party's humiliation in West Bengal and Kerala.

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The party and its chief tried to find some solace in the 41% vote the CPM got as a possible balm for its political wounds, while admitting to organisational and governmental failure that led to party's rout in Bengal.

"Despite the electoral reverses, the Left Front has got the support of one crore 96 lakh people which is over 41% of the votes polled," Karat said.

"It is evident that the people have opted for a change and the circumstances that led to this mood among the people should be properly assessed", a statement issued by the politburo said.

Winning back the traditional followers, re-orientation in party policies to connect with the masses and stepping up people's movements are the broader guidelines party will be working on.

The party is also under pressure to bring back V S Achutanandan back into the Politburo after his role in the party's close fight in Kerala, almost denying anti-incumbency. He was removed from the Politburo in 2009, facing disciplinary charges.

Karat admitted that Achutanandan was a factor in the close fight it had put up. But he also pointed out the "record of the Left Front Government," and Congress-led UDF getting bogged down by issues of corruption, which helped the party.

In the 140-member Kerala assembly elections, Congress-led UDF had won 72 seats and CP (M)-led LDF finished with 68 seats.

The CPI(M) central committee meet in Hyderabad from June 10 to 12 will analyse the defeat threadbare.