‘Within our collective style,in a sense the responsibility lies with me’

The CPM has long been talking about expanding its base beyond Bengal,Kerala and Tripura. That has not happened.

It is true that our party’s main strength lies in these three states… We have not had any substantial progress in other states. We are making efforts. We have made some progress in states like Rajasthan; we did well in the last elections.

You have been arguing that the neo-liberal policies of the UPA are disastrous and waging struggles,but these have not touched a chord with the masses.

There is a differentiated impact of liberalisation. For example,within the middle class there is a section which has benefited from these policies. They don’t come to us anymore. But there are other sections and their problems are different. When you talk about the working class,a very large section is outside the organised sector. They are the most exploited. The question is how to organise them. So in different classes and sections,we have to study and then decide how to take it up.

Do you think the party has alienated the middle class because of its policies?

It is not a question of alienating. We are not able to attract them. There are various reasons and it is not something that is due to us alone. For example,price rise — a section of the middle class,salaried employees,have inflation-indexed salaries. They get dearness allowance. So they don’t feel the brunt the same way. There are other large sections of the urban and rural poor who have been hit very hard. So,we have to know how to pick up which issue and on which issue to conduct [sustained struggles.

You took up issues like the nuclear deal,but these did not pay electorally.

It could not be made an issue for rallying the people against the government. That we have accepted after the Lok Sabha elections. But that does not mean our party will accept the government going in for a strategic alliance with the US. Questions of foreign policy do not directly impinge on people’s lives except on rare occasions. But a communist party takes the foreign policy of the country seriously.

What is the party’s mood in Bengal?

I attended the conference for four days in Kolkata. What I have found is that there is a quiet confidence and determination that we will overcome the problems and difficulties and we will be able to move forward. That realisation is there. Despite these attacks,the main cadre,core of our party at all levels,they have faced these attacks,they are not demoralised and they are not going to desert the party.

But why are there no big agitations against the government,unlike in Kerala where the CPM has hit the streets?

The Bengal situation is vastly different. There was a strike in rural areas by farmers and agricultural workers against the agrarian crisis,farmer suicides and lack of procurement. We had a big struggle. The February 28 general strike was also a big success in Bengal. So we are reorganising. You can’t compare it with Kerala where we did not lose elections in that sense. In Bengal,we have been facing continuous attacks. We have lost 466 members and supporters since the Lok Sabha elections. You have areas where there were Maoist attacks. It is not a normal situation. We have to cope with that,come to terms with that and continue our work.

How would you rate the Mamata Banerjee government?

She got support on the slogan of change. And I think in 10 months,what sort of change it portends is being realised now by the people. In all spheres,in terms of administration,law and order. There have been a series of rapes,cases of extortion,people are feeling more insecure,even in cities like Kolkata. The most damaging thing is a denial that such things are happening. The second thing is that there is agrarian distress and a host of anti-democratic steps. The recent one is about how they are dealing with the media or even universities,colleges. They have scrapped all the old laws and statutes… handing over universities to the bureaucracy. There is no democratic representation or participation.

I can see that the people are getting a bit concerned about what have we now got into,where are we going,where is this heading.

What has happened to the plans for a third alternative?

We are not talking about a third alternative now. We are going back to our old position: that we need cooperation with some of the non-Congress,non-BJP parties on issues,policy matters and in defence of secularism. We feel that this third alternative based on a programme is something not realisable now. We are stressing a Left and democratic alliance. That alliance is not going to be linked to elections. Through movements and struggles and getting various sections of people aon board,we feel a Left and democratic front will emerge.

Will such an alliance emerge by 2014?

No. But I think it is the beginning of a process of realignment of forces. What we are seeing today in terms of the UPA,as it was formed before the 2004 elections,I think it appears very wobbly and fragile now. The NDA has not really rejuvenated itself after losing two successive elections. Those who thought that Indian politics will settle down to a bipolar system or a two-front system…. what we are seeing today is the unravelling of that in one sense,or the beginning of that.

Do you foresee mid-term elections?

I don’t think so. I have talked to other parties. Nobody is thinking in terms of a mid-term poll. Unless of course there is something we cannot understand or anticipate….like the UPA government is going to implode for some reason. And we are not seeing it happening.

If a third front emerges and the Trinamool is in it,will the CPM be in it?

We don’t think of the third alternative the way you are envisaging it now. As far as our role is concerned,let me make it clear,we have to look at our own work and strengthening ourselves first. That is the priority today. After that comes the issue of joining hands with others.

Your take on the tussle between the government and the Army chief?

I am a bit puzzled about the whole controversy. But I think the one point that has to be kept in mind,when you are talking about the tremendous high-level corruption that has grown in all spheres of our society,[is that even the armed forces and defence are not immune to this. So I think in all this rhetoric and polemics going on,a very serious question is,we are spending a huge amount of money on our defence budget of which a large part should go to equipment procurement,but there is something rotten in that.

Some time ago,you spoke about hitting the retirement age.

I am of the view that a person,however important,is not indispensable in a position. So the three-term limit [of the general secretary’s tenure,as per a proposal to amend the party constitution will also allow me to step down at a certain time.

Is retirement on your mind?

I think communists don’t retire. But I will step down from the position of general secretary after the third term.

As general secretary,do you take moral and personal responsibility for the electoral setbacks?

We don’t frame it in those terms in our party. We as an organisation have a collective style of functioning and within that collective style we have individual responsibilities. So all of us,when we review our work,also take individual responsibilities for the outcome of that work. In that sense,yes,the responsibility lies with me or with our leadership.

The ‘third alternative government’ slogan didn’t work in 2009. Who decided it?

Our central committee. It is in the manifesto,approved by the central committee.

But there was criticism that the leadership in Delhi erred in the slogan.

We don’t have Delhi. We don’t have a high command. Even this election manifesto,it so happened,was finalised by the central committee. Our central committee discussed it because it was meeting and the slogan of an alternative government was given thinking it will help us will rally greater support. We had an assessment which did not prove correct.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has not been attending politburo and central committee meetings in Delhi. Will he attend the Kozhikode congress?

He has written to the central committee for permission not to attend meetings outside Kolkata because of his health. The central committee has accepted. [Kozhikode depends on his health. He is not sure whether he can travel.