The Crossbill Team
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Coordinator Prakash Karat has rejected the notion that the CPI(M)’s refusal to accept the prime minister’s post offered to then-West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu in 1996 contributed to its decline.
In an interview with news agency PTI, Karat—who served as CPI(M) General Secretary from 2005 to 2015—asserted that the party’s strength has always stemmed from grassroots struggles rather than occupying positions of power.
"We should not forget that our main strength in Parliament at that time came from West Bengal. And our party does not think being in government or in any position will help to increase the strength of the party," Karat told PTI.
He emphasized that the Left Front’s rise in West Bengal was the result of decades of people’s struggles, culminating in its government formation in 1977.
"What we had as strength in West Bengal was decades of work, struggles of the different sections of people for their rights. And that led to the formation of the Left Front government there (in 1977),” the Marxist leader said.
"That is why, at that time, we felt it wouldn't be helpful. Politically, we were committed to having a United Front government," he added.
Karat explained that the CPI(M) was committed to supporting a United Front government and noted that, with 32 Lok Sabha MPs in 1996, the party would not have had the autonomy to implement its policies if it had taken charge of the government.
Following the 1996 elections, a coalition of 13 parties, including the Left Front, formed the United Front government with outside support from Congress. After both Basu and former prime minister VP Singh declined the top post, HD Deve Gowda was chosen as prime minister, later succeeded by IK Gujral. The government eventually collapsed in 1998.
Once a formidable force in Indian politics, CPI(M) had 43 MPs in the 14th Lok Sabha (2004-09), a number that dwindled to 16 in 2009, nine in 2014, and just three in 2019. The party marginally improved its tally to four seats in the 2024 elections.
At the state level, the CPI(M)-led Left Front lost power in West Bengal to the Trinamool Congress in 2011 after 34 years of uninterrupted rule. In Tripura, where it governed since 1993, the Left was ousted by the BJP in 2018.
"It is a fact that the party's independent strength and influence have not grown. And that's primarily been due to the erosion in our base of support in West Bengal and Tripura, two of the strong states that we have," he added.
Focus on Strengthening the Party
Karat said that a key agenda of the 24th Party Congress, scheduled in Madurai from April 2-6, will be to identify and address weaknesses in the party’s political, ideological, and organizational work.
"So, the focus of our forthcoming party congress is how we strengthen the party," PTI quoted the CPI(M) Polit Bureau member as saying.
He reiterated that the party remains committed to isolating and defeating the BJP but will also work to expand Left unity while engaging with regional parties under the INDIA bloc.
"Keeping in mind that. Our political task or goal still remains how to isolate and defeat the BJP or the Modi government, for that you need wider unity. We recognise that. How to maintain this wider unity, a broader platform, that we will have to strive for,” said.
"At the same time, we don't see this as separate. Strengthening of the CPI(M) will also help strengthen the overall opposition unity or strengthening of the Left. And we feel that the Left's alternative politics or policies need to be projected as a rallying point for the fight against the various policies of the Modi government,” he added.
Impact of Yechury’s Passing & Party’s Future Leadership
Karat acknowledged that the sudden demise of General Secretary Sitaram Yechury was a major setback just as preparations for the party congress had gained momentum.
However, he asserted that CPI(M)’s collective leadership structure allowed it to continue its work smoothly.
As per party norms, leaders above 75 will not be eligible for election to the Central Committee, which will choose the Polit Bureau and General Secretary.
The new leadership, Karat said, will be tasked with revitalizing the party and expanding its mass base.
The CPI(M)’s draft political resolution, to be discussed in Madurai, underlines the need to strengthen the party’s independent base while engaging with broader opposition forces against the BJP.
In an interview with news agency PTI, Karat—who served as CPI(M) General Secretary from 2005 to 2015—asserted that the party’s strength has always stemmed from grassroots struggles rather than occupying positions of power.
"We should not forget that our main strength in Parliament at that time came from West Bengal. And our party does not think being in government or in any position will help to increase the strength of the party," Karat told PTI.
He emphasized that the Left Front’s rise in West Bengal was the result of decades of people’s struggles, culminating in its government formation in 1977.
"What we had as strength in West Bengal was decades of work, struggles of the different sections of people for their rights. And that led to the formation of the Left Front government there (in 1977),” the Marxist leader said.
"That is why, at that time, we felt it wouldn't be helpful. Politically, we were committed to having a United Front government," he added.
Karat explained that the CPI(M) was committed to supporting a United Front government and noted that, with 32 Lok Sabha MPs in 1996, the party would not have had the autonomy to implement its policies if it had taken charge of the government.
Following the 1996 elections, a coalition of 13 parties, including the Left Front, formed the United Front government with outside support from Congress. After both Basu and former prime minister VP Singh declined the top post, HD Deve Gowda was chosen as prime minister, later succeeded by IK Gujral. The government eventually collapsed in 1998.
Once a formidable force in Indian politics, CPI(M) had 43 MPs in the 14th Lok Sabha (2004-09), a number that dwindled to 16 in 2009, nine in 2014, and just three in 2019. The party marginally improved its tally to four seats in the 2024 elections.
At the state level, the CPI(M)-led Left Front lost power in West Bengal to the Trinamool Congress in 2011 after 34 years of uninterrupted rule. In Tripura, where it governed since 1993, the Left was ousted by the BJP in 2018.
"It is a fact that the party's independent strength and influence have not grown. And that's primarily been due to the erosion in our base of support in West Bengal and Tripura, two of the strong states that we have," he added.
Focus on Strengthening the Party
Karat said that a key agenda of the 24th Party Congress, scheduled in Madurai from April 2-6, will be to identify and address weaknesses in the party’s political, ideological, and organizational work.
"So, the focus of our forthcoming party congress is how we strengthen the party," PTI quoted the CPI(M) Polit Bureau member as saying.
He reiterated that the party remains committed to isolating and defeating the BJP but will also work to expand Left unity while engaging with regional parties under the INDIA bloc.
"Keeping in mind that. Our political task or goal still remains how to isolate and defeat the BJP or the Modi government, for that you need wider unity. We recognise that. How to maintain this wider unity, a broader platform, that we will have to strive for,” said.
"At the same time, we don't see this as separate. Strengthening of the CPI(M) will also help strengthen the overall opposition unity or strengthening of the Left. And we feel that the Left's alternative politics or policies need to be projected as a rallying point for the fight against the various policies of the Modi government,” he added.
Impact of Yechury’s Passing & Party’s Future Leadership
Karat acknowledged that the sudden demise of General Secretary Sitaram Yechury was a major setback just as preparations for the party congress had gained momentum.
However, he asserted that CPI(M)’s collective leadership structure allowed it to continue its work smoothly.
As per party norms, leaders above 75 will not be eligible for election to the Central Committee, which will choose the Polit Bureau and General Secretary.
The new leadership, Karat said, will be tasked with revitalizing the party and expanding its mass base.
The CPI(M)’s draft political resolution, to be discussed in Madurai, underlines the need to strengthen the party’s independent base while engaging with broader opposition forces against the BJP.
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