CPM admits erosion in strongholds, says BJP replaced livelihood issues with Modi's 'persona'
New Delhi, May 27 (UNI): Acknowledging that the Left parties suffered a severe setback in its strongholds in the Lok Sabha election, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday said BJP had successfully replaced the narrative of unemployment and other livelihood issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'persona' and 'nothing could be done, even if the entire Opposition had come together to defeat that narrative'.
Talking to mediapersons after the party's two-day politburo meeting to assess the election results, Mr Yechury said the narrative built around communal nationalist jingoism, along with the issues of fighting terrorism, brushed aside all other issues of day-to-day concerns of the people.
"This was aided by the build-up of the Modi persona through a combination of factors. These included the effective use of technology and its instruments of messaging to the people, backed by big data analytics and micro level social engineering," he said.
Taking on the Election Commission, the Left leader said that the role of the poll body was also a factor that permitted the build-up of such a narrative.
"This process was assisted by the vast network of RSS-affiliated organisations," he alleged.
In the Lok Saba election, the party managed to get only three seats - two in Tamil Nadu and one in Kerala, the worst performance in its electoral history.
"The electoral base of the CPIM saw a big erosion in our strongholds, particularly in West Bengal, Tripura and some extend in Kerala. The politburo discussed some of the issues that led to this erosion," he said.
Mr Yechury said the politburo believes these elections call for a thorough examination and drawing for proper lesson "so that this experience can help us to strengthen the independent base of the party and our capacity for political intervention, through popular struggles".
He said the state committee of the party's West Bengal unit will convene on June 4 and Kerala state committee will meet on May 31.
"The central committee meeting from June 7 to 9 will discuss and adopt a report, based on reports from the states, to draw proper lessons on the basis of a serious introspection on the experiences of these elections," he added.
Referring to the incidents of violence against minorities in Gurugram of Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, Mr Yechury said this is contrary to the PM-elect Narendra Modi's declaration that the new government will be inclusive and create confidence among all sections of people.
He alleged that both in West Bengal and Tripura, these elections were held in the backdrop of intense terror and violence.
"During the course of elections, two Left supporters have lost their lives in West Bengal and one in Tripura. In both the states, post-poll violence continues. This is taking a dangerous turn towards communal clashes," Mr Yechury added.
image credit: UNI
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