Can India survive without Left’s political influence? Rival says no

The last election results saw the defeat of CPM in Tripura for the first time in 25 years. What have the rivals to say about this defeat?

Highlighting that a strong Left was necessary for democracy, veteran Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday said its “demise” was a disaster for the country.

“The Left has to be stronger in India. The demise of the Left is a disaster for the country,” Ramesh said referring to the setback for Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left in Tripura.

Ramesh said “the Left is our political rival but I would say that India just cannot afford the demise of the Left”.

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After Saturday’s election results, the Left remained in power in Kerala only. In all three states, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bettered its performance from the last elections.

Not only BJP registered a massive victory in Tripura uprooting Left after 25 years in power, it also managed to ensure that governments it backs in Meghalaya and Nagaland.

In Tripura, BJP moved from zero to 35 seats, and a total of 43 seats along with its ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT). In Meghalaya, it won two seats; five years ago it had won none. In Nagaland, BJP won 12 seats; in 2013, it had won one seat.

Reacting to the fall of the Left, Ramesh said that the Left must also realize people’s aspirations.

“The Left also has to learn to know what people really want and work on it,” he stated.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders on Monday celebrated the party’s latest victory by wearing scarves in the colors of the Northeast in Parliament. BJP president Amit Shah presented Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi with a traditional Naga scarf.

Later, party leaders held the ‘V’ sign for victory and posed for photographs near the PM’s office.

Reacting to the poor performance of the Left, Member of Parliament from Tripura West constituency Sankar Prasad Datta said it was time for introspection.

“We will discuss it in the party in detail and get all the details of the election result data to study on what is required to be done and what lacunae was there in case of organizational work of the party on the ground. But mainly it is the outside force which has overpowered us”, Datta told media.