Is Left's honeymoon with the UPA govt over?

New Delhi Apr 15: Disillusioned with the economic policies and a series of defeats of the Congress in the recent Assembly and urban body polls, Left parties are facing pressure from within to withdraw support to the UPA-government, which is now being perceived as a "sinking ship".

Members of the Left parties also foresee a significant change on the national political scene after the UP assembly polls with the possibility of re-alignment of non-Congress and non- BJP forces to form a Third alternative.

The comments of the Left Parties assume significance in view of the statement of the CPI(M) stalwart Jyoti Basu that his party has no immediate plans to withdraw support to the government, though it is unhappy with the style of functioning of the Centre.

The Left party members feel the economic policies of the government, despite the Opposition from them, has resulted in a grim scenario for the people---declining job opportunities for the common man, unabated agrarian crisis leading to farmers suicide, spiralling price rise, unbridled encouragement to foreign investment at the cost of domestic business and mere lip service to the programmes listed under the National Common Minimum Programme.

These "hard realities" have made the Left parties to introspect on their support to the Congress-led coalition at the Centre.

In separate interviews to UNI against the backdrop of the Congress' routing in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and now Maharashtra Lok Sabha by-polls, the CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc favour withdrawal of support to the government.

The leaders from these parties asserted that the post-UP poll scenario would be pregnant with the possibility of formation of a Third alternative.

CPI leaders--A B Bardhan and Shamim Faizi--said the recent defeat in the by-polls in Maharashtra should ring the alarm bells for the Congress.

"The rout in Maharashtra as also other places symbolises people's discontentment with the UPA government. Obviously, even the parties who are part of the ruling alliance and those who have been supporting from outside cannot ignore people's unhappiness with the Congress", Mr Bardhan said.

Stating that after the UP polls all eyes would be on the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the CPI leaders said the Left would not be in a position to remain in a ruling combine led by the Congress, which is rapidly losing its mass support as has been evident in 10 of the 12 assembly polls contested during the UPA regime so far.

Only in two states the Congress managed to retain power--Manipur and Asom, they said.

Mr Bardhan, CPI General Secretary, recalled that the CPI at its Chandigarh Congress and CPI(M) at its Delhi Congress had called for a Left and democratic alternative which will address the concerns of the people.

It was expected, Mr Faizi, Editor of New Age, the party mouth- piece, that the UPA by implementing the NCMP, would remove all distortions--economic, political and foreign policy matters-- brought about by the NDA regime.

"Much will depend upon the outcome of UP assembly polls. It will have its impact not only on the future of the UPA government, but the very nature and character of the political formation at the Centre," the two leftists said.

Besides, the outcome of UP elections will determine the shape of re-alignment of forces, ahead of the Presidential elections in July.

CPI(M) veteran and Politbureau member M K Pandhe said even though there was some progress relating to the formation of Third Front, yet there was no possibility of its immediate emergence.

"The Congress has lost its mass base because of its pro-rich economic policies," Mr Pandhe said adding that the Left was trying its best to find ways and means of building a genuine Third alternative.

"Our concept of a Third alternative is not based on a mere electoral tie-up. It has to be built on people's struggle on critical public issues." Asked whether the Lefts image had been battered in any manner because of its association with the UPA government, Mr Pandhe said: "we have distanced ourselves from the anti-poor and anti-people economic policies of the UPA govenment. By holding on to a steadfast position for the benefit of the people, we have not allowed our mass base to be eroded." Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devrajan said there was a growing feeling among the the Left parties that it must mount greater pressure on the ruling coalition to implement the NCMP. "We are extremly unhappy with the last Budget," he quipped.

Mr Devrajan said after the UP polls, the regional parties were not likely to remain in the UPA-coalition. There will definitely be re-alignment of various forces, he said.

The moot question that analysts are posing is when will the umblical cord or the marriage of convenience between the Left and the Congress break.

UNI

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