Left rift with Mulayam widens

The CPI(M), whose central leadership was till recently reluctant to sever ties with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, is preparing to distance itself from him in the next Assembly elections, thanks to pressure from its state unit as also from other Left parties.

The state unit of the CPI(M), which met in Lucknow last week in the presence of CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, was learnt to be extremely critical of the Mulayam government, accusing it of depriving farmers of their livelihood by acquiring their fertile land at a very low cost for setting up special economic zones, high-tech city, tourism and power projects.

The state government is concerned about serving the interests of capitalists at the cost of farmers and labourers, said a press release after the state committee meeting.

The state committee's attitude towards Yadav came as a setback to many in the CPI(M) who have been in favour of an alliance with him in the Assembly election.

"It's not about UP election only. Mulayam's relevance comes in the context of a Third Front. Whether such a Front is viable or not is not the issue here. The idea has to be kept alive to keep a check on the UPA government," a senior CPI(M) leader told Business Standard.

At a meeting of the four Left parties in New Delhi last month, Karat's endeavour to persuade other Left parties to forge an alliance with the SP in the next Assembly election had evoked sharp reaction from CPI.