New Delhi, the erosion of its base in states where it has a strong presence is a cause for concern, the CPI(M) said in a report, which identifies the resurgence of identity politics and "years of repression and attacks on the party" to be one of the reasons for its reduced strength.
The Central Committee, the party's highest decision-making body, called for countering the adverse impact of identity politics with its class politics and addressing social issues relating to oppressed groups.
The Central Committee's report on the 18th Lok Sabha elections, adopted during a meeting held from June 28 to 30 in New Delhi, also pointed out the loss of its traditional base in several constituencies in favor of the BJP in Kerala." "It is clear that the long-observed erosion of our mass base continues. What is worrying is the erosion of our mass/electoral base in our strong states," observed the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). .
They said the preliminary review by state party committees confirms this erosion even when there is no assessment of how their main supporters - the working class, poor and middle peasants and agricultural workers - actually voted.
The Central Committee noted in the report that in Kerala, the vote share of the BJP-led NDA has almost doubled in the last ten years - from 10.08 percent in 2014 to 19.2 percent in 2024, while that the LDF's vote percentage has increased. decreased from 40.2 per cent in 2014 to 33.35 per cent in 2024. However, he stated that the main reason for the victory of the UDF (Congress-led alliance in Kerala) in the recently held Lok Sabha elections and defeat of the LDF (alliance led by the CPI(M) in Kerala) is that, for a considerable For a section of the people, particularly the minorities, the objective of defeating the BJP at the Center was considered feasible only by the Congress, which heads the INDIA block.
"This was the same trend seen in the 2019 elections, when Rahul Gandhi contested from Wayanad constituency," the Central Committee observed.
"A worrying feature of the election results is the erosion of our traditional base in several constituencies towards the BJP," the report said. While they said the main reason for the BJP's success in Thrissur was the transfer of votes from the BJP's base Congress and a section of Christians, observed that part of the CPI(M) base has gone to the BJP in several places. , like Attingal and Alappuzha.
He also said that the Hindutva politics of the BJP-RSS has yielded results, with caste and communal organizations playing a bigger role. Lack of enthusiasm among the youth in the elections was also among the factors that worked against the party in Kerala, the report added.
In West Bengal, they noted that the BJP lost in several seats due to the CPI(M)'s increasing vote share, but also noted that its organization had weakened in the state, which was reflected in the party not having any votes. . agents in 12-14 percent of the stands. "There are many areas where no party has existed for a long time. Without class movements and organization, it will not be possible to restore our political influence and our electoral base," said the Central Committee on party management. situation in West Bengal.
He also said that the state government's schemes like 'Lakshmir Bhandar' have received massive support for the TMC, especially among women, and that the approach of the party units and cadres, attacking them as 'bribes' or 'doles' was a "wrong approach", which has alienated the poor from the CPI(M).
The party units focused less on fighting the BJP than the TMC during the campaign, even though the party line called for a defeat of the TMC and the BJP, he said. "This problem has persisted since the last assembly elections." and measures should be taken to educate cadres about the party's political orientation," the report says.
The Central Committee further said that the resurgence of identity politics will weaken the CPI(M) and the Left.
"A cursory analysis of the erosion of our electoral base in strong states like Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura shows the adverse impact of identity politics. In Tripura, the resurgence of tribal identity politics has contributed to the erosion of strong tribal base of the communist party movement,” they said.The caste and ethnic identity politics resorted to by the TMC and the BJP have affected the CPI(M) base in north Bengal and other parts of the state, while in Kerala, both caste and religious identity politics have affected his base, he said.
"Overall, identity politics based on caste, community and religion have contributed to further eroding the party's independent strength in other states as well," the report said.
"We have to find ways to counter this identity politics based on our class politics and combine it with consideration of social issues that concern the socially oppressed sections," he said. He also noted that while the INDIA bloc gave a setback to the BJP in the general elections, the marginalization of the left continues.
"As we strive to achieve broad opposition unity in defense of democracy, secularism and federalism, there must be renewed emphasis on left unity and efforts to build a democratic and leftist platform," he said.
The Central Committee, the party's highest decision-making body, called for countering the adverse impact of identity politics with its class politics and addressing social issues relating to oppressed groups.
The Central Committee's report on the 18th Lok Sabha elections, adopted during a meeting held from June 28 to 30 in New Delhi, also pointed out the loss of its traditional base in several constituencies in favor of the BJP in Kerala." "It is clear that the long-observed erosion of our mass base continues. What is worrying is the erosion of our mass/electoral base in our strong states," observed the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). .
They said the preliminary review by state party committees confirms this erosion even when there is no assessment of how their main supporters - the working class, poor and middle peasants and agricultural workers - actually voted.
The Central Committee noted in the report that in Kerala, the vote share of the BJP-led NDA has almost doubled in the last ten years - from 10.08 percent in 2014 to 19.2 percent in 2024, while that the LDF's vote percentage has increased. decreased from 40.2 per cent in 2014 to 33.35 per cent in 2024. However, he stated that the main reason for the victory of the UDF (Congress-led alliance in Kerala) in the recently held Lok Sabha elections and defeat of the LDF (alliance led by the CPI(M) in Kerala) is that, for a considerable For a section of the people, particularly the minorities, the objective of defeating the BJP at the Center was considered feasible only by the Congress, which heads the INDIA block.
"This was the same trend seen in the 2019 elections, when Rahul Gandhi contested from Wayanad constituency," the Central Committee observed.
"A worrying feature of the election results is the erosion of our traditional base in several constituencies towards the BJP," the report said. While they said the main reason for the BJP's success in Thrissur was the transfer of votes from the BJP's base Congress and a section of Christians, observed that part of the CPI(M) base has gone to the BJP in several places. , like Attingal and Alappuzha.
He also said that the Hindutva politics of the BJP-RSS has yielded results, with caste and communal organizations playing a bigger role. Lack of enthusiasm among the youth in the elections was also among the factors that worked against the party in Kerala, the report added.
In West Bengal, they noted that the BJP lost in several seats due to the CPI(M)'s increasing vote share, but also noted that its organization had weakened in the state, which was reflected in the party not having any votes. . agents in 12-14 percent of the stands. "There are many areas where no party has existed for a long time. Without class movements and organization, it will not be possible to restore our political influence and our electoral base," said the Central Committee on party management. situation in West Bengal.
He also said that the state government's schemes like 'Lakshmir Bhandar' have received massive support for the TMC, especially among women, and that the approach of the party units and cadres, attacking them as 'bribes' or 'doles' was a "wrong approach", which has alienated the poor from the CPI(M).
The party units focused less on fighting the BJP than the TMC during the campaign, even though the party line called for a defeat of the TMC and the BJP, he said. "This problem has persisted since the last assembly elections." and measures should be taken to educate cadres about the party's political orientation," the report says.
The Central Committee further said that the resurgence of identity politics will weaken the CPI(M) and the Left.
"A cursory analysis of the erosion of our electoral base in strong states like Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura shows the adverse impact of identity politics. In Tripura, the resurgence of tribal identity politics has contributed to the erosion of strong tribal base of the communist party movement,” they said.The caste and ethnic identity politics resorted to by the TMC and the BJP have affected the CPI(M) base in north Bengal and other parts of the state, while in Kerala, both caste and religious identity politics have affected his base, he said.
"Overall, identity politics based on caste, community and religion have contributed to further eroding the party's independent strength in other states as well," the report said.
"We have to find ways to counter this identity politics based on our class politics and combine it with consideration of social issues that concern the socially oppressed sections," he said. He also noted that while the INDIA bloc gave a setback to the BJP in the general elections, the marginalization of the left continues.
"As we strive to achieve broad opposition unity in defense of democracy, secularism and federalism, there must be renewed emphasis on left unity and efforts to build a democratic and leftist platform," he said.
