Thiruvananthapuram: What Somnath Chatterjee said in 2013 on the prosp-ects of a federal front seems to be true even on the eve of 2019 elections.
In an interview with DC, the former Lok Sabha speaker had pointed out that it was very unlikely that a federal front would crystallise into a functional group which could provide a functional government at the Centre.
He said the smaller parties were alright within their own territory. But leading the Government in India involved more important issues.
“People have lot of expectations. You need to command the respect of the majority of the people in India. Without a very accepted common minimum programme which I hardly think will materialise, how can a front emerge? he said.
Excerpts of the interview
On anti-Congressism of Left particularly CPM
CPI(M) has suffered because of this approach. In 2004, I said, the party should have joined the government when the Left parties were strong and had quite a good number of MPs. I made the suggestion since you have to deliver the goods. Merely making promises does not help as people start asking why they should vote for Left when they are going to sit in the Opposition.
What should be the role of the Left in the Indian context?
CPI(M)’s position in Bengal is diminishing. Today where does the Left stand in West Bengal. CPI (M) cannot even protect their comrades. They can’t even put up candidates in panchayat elections. They can only go and complain. People are sick of old style of functioning.
When I became a member of Parliament in 1971 there were so many MPs from CPI(M) from so many states; Punjab, Maharashtra, Orissa, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam. Where are they now apart from Kerala and West Bengal? There may be few members, I don’t know, may be in Himachal Pradesh.
What is your prescription?
I have been saying that you have to be with the people. Immediately they should start connecting with the people. It is hardly happening anywhere. Those who are in charge of the party should think why they are not developing. I don’t have a magical formula. Let them immediately go back to the people like they used to do earlier. There is disconnect with the people, party cannot work from offices alone.
As first Bengali Speaker of the Lok Sabha, I got greater recognition in Kerala than in Bengal. I used to come for meetings and conference during the Left Front Government rule,” Mr Somnath Chatt-erjee said, fondly recollecting his visits to the state.
