Uniting line: on CPI(M)’s political resolution
By adopting a political resolution acceptable to both the majority and minority sections, the 22nd party congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) averted a divisive contest for the post of the general secretary and gave a fresh term to the incumbent, Sitaram Yechury. In its essence, the political line was not very different from the draft political resolution backed by the majority section led by former general secretary Prakash Karat, but it was sufficiently vague to give some manoeuvring room to the beleaguered Mr. Yechury. The clause of contention related to allying with the Congress to defeat the BJP — with the majority Karat line, backed by most of the Kerala unit, against it, and the minority Yechury line, supported by most of the West Bengal unit, for it. The compromise involved replacing the phrase “without having an understanding or electoral alliance with the Congress party” with “without having a political alliance with the Congress party”. The end-result allowed both sides to claim victory. For the Karat side, ruling out a political alliance meant ruling out an electoral alliance; for the Yechury side, the withdrawal of the specific bar on understanding and electoral alliance with the Congress opened up the possibility of taking such a course. For those not used to the intense debates in Communist parties this might seem more like word-play than sword-fight. But the differences are rooted not only in a theoretical understanding of the threat posed by the BJP, whether it is communal authoritarianism or fascism, but also in the practical difficulty of fighting the Congress in Kerala and allying with it elsewhere. If fascism were the only concern for the West Bengal unit, an alliance with the Trinamool Congress should have been just as viable.
However, reducing its whole politics to the question of allying with the Congress would have been a serious mistake for the CPI(M), which built its support base first on the back of working class struggles, and later in opposition to the growing threat from neo-liberalism, represented in equal measure by the BJP and the Congress. The political line, in any case, allows for an understanding with all secular opposition parties, including the Congress, on agreed issues inside Parliament, and a broad mobilisation of people against communalism. The happy compromise allowed Mr. Yechury a second term, leaving the question of whether the unity on theory will hold in practice to be answered at the time of a general election in West Bengal. True, the current political line does not prohibit the CPI(M) from having seat adjustments or a post-poll understanding with the Congress. But not even an imaginative reading of the resolution can allow for the type of alliance the two parties had in West Bengal in 2016.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) Divisive
Meaning: Tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people.
Example: “The highly divisive issue of abortion”
Synonyms: Isolating, Schismatic
Antonyms: Unifying
2) Incumbent
Meaning: The holder of an office or post.
Example: “The present incumbent will soon be retiring”
Synonyms: Holder, Bearer
3) Manoeuvring
Meaning: Move skilfully or carefully.
Example: “The lorry was unable to manoeuvre comfortably in the narrow street”
Synonyms: Steer, Guide
4) Beleaguered
Meaning: Put in a very difficult situation.
Example: “The board is supporting the beleaguered director”
Synonyms: Hard-pressed, Troubled
5) Allying
Meaning: Combine or unite a resource or commodity with (another) for mutual benefit.
Example: “He allied his racing experience with his father’s business acumen”
Synonyms: Combine, Marry
Antonyms: Split
6) Claim
Meaning: State or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof.
Example: “The Prime Minister claimed that he was concerned about Third World debt”
Synonyms: Assert, Declare
7) Fascism
Meaning: A political system based on a very powerful leader, state control, and being extremely proud of country race, and in which political opposition is not allowed.
Example: This year’s history syllabus covers the rise of Fascism in Europe.
8) Concern
Meaning: Have a specific connection with or responsibility for.
Example: “Those concerned in industry, academia, and government”
9) Viable
Meaning: Capable of working successfully; feasible.
Example: “The proposed investment was economically viable”
Synonyms: Workable, Feasible
Antonyms: Impracticable
10) Secular
Meaning: Not connected with religious or spiritual matters.
Example: “Secular buildings”
Synonyms: Lay, Profane
Antonyms: Holy, Sacred
11) Mobilisation
Meaning: The action of a country or its government preparing and organizing troops for active service.
Example: “Mobilization of the army in 1941 brought 2,500,000 men under arms”
