Motley alliance of secular parties unworkable against BJP

An alliance of a "motley" bunch of secular parties is "unworkable" and cannot help halt the BJP juggernaut, senior CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat said today.

Apparently referring to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joining hands with the BJP after jettisoning the Grand Alliance, Karat said instead of stitching "opportunistic" coalitions, broadest united platforms should be created to mobilise public opinion to fight communal forces.

"Now that the architect of the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) himself has crossed over to the BJP camp, the concept of a grand alliance lies in tatters.

"The CPI(M) is as much concerned about building the widest unity in the struggle against the Modi government and the BJP. But it has always maintained that this cannot be accomplished by putting together an alliance of a motley bunch of secular parties," Karat wrote in an editorial in CPI(M) mouthpiece 'People's Democracy'.
 

He said 'all-in-opposition unity' to take on the BJP was "not feasible" as it has to include and be led by the congress, which "imposed" neo-liberal economic policies on the country and was seen as no different from the saffron party when it came to basic policies.

Noting that Congress stood "discredited" due to years of its "misrule and corruption", the former CPI(M) general secretary said the Left and democratic forces cannot stop the forward march of BJP by allying with it.

He accused the Narendra Modi government of aggressively pursuing neo-liberal policies and the Hindutva communal agenda.

Karat said the steady flow of Congress leaders and activists to the BJP only reflected the oldest party was not seen as being different from the ruling party.

The united platform, he added, should have all mass organisations, democratic groups and social movements onboard and draw in students, youth and women in large numbers. He referred to the recent farmers' protest in Maharashtra over a range of issues as the example of such "united struggle".

"Such movements must be accompanied by the relentless struggle against the Hindutva communal forces at the political and ideological level.

"It is based on such a Left and democratic programme that we can move forward towards building a credible political alternative (to the BJP)," he said.