Anti-CPI(M) drive set for new phase

By Girish Menon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 12. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. A. K. Antony's confession that informal dialogues had been held with some of the LDF partners which are unhappy with the CPI(M)'s style of functioning is perhaps the UDF's first official acknowledgement that it was seeking a political realignment in Kerala.

Vague statements had been made by the senior Congress(I) leader, Mr. K. Karunakaran, about such informal talks with CPI leaders, while the UDF convener, Mr. K. Sankaranarayanan, kept reporters guessing at press conferences after each UDF high power meeting. Never had these been officially confirmed.

Despite Mr. Antony's open statement that several LDF partners had queued up before the UDF, the process of political regrouping which the Congress(I)-led UDF is looking for would take some more time to begin. It nevertheless sets off the anti-CPI(M) campaign on a new phase.

The anti-Marxist sentiment has been mounting in the LDF for the last two years, but it came into sharp focus in recent days.

Most of the issues now tormenting the ruling coalition are the ones which had been time and again highlighted by the Congress(I) and the UDF, whether it was the conduct of the People's Plan Campaign or the institution of expert panels under the programme.

The UDF has also been opposing the police policy of the Nayanar government, which, according to the UDF, was following a dual dictum - one for the CPI(M) cadres and another for non-CPI(M) parties.

With the mounting confrontation between the UDF parties and the CPI(M) over the implementation of the People's Police Scheme, the onus, according to the Opposition Leader, would be on the LDF partners to prevent its senior from unilaterally implementing it.

In fact, he taunted the LDF partners for failing to take even the kind of position that the NDA partners did to get the decision on the Public Distribution System and the RSS issue withdrawn.

He could take consolation from the fact that the CPI has openly opposed the PDS, with a vehemence hitherto not seen in its responses.

In order to be more helpful, Congress(I) leaders have been sending sufficient signals to the LDF partners, primarily the CPI, about its economic leanings. The Congress(I) leaders, both inside and outside the Assembly, have been taking a left of centre position, clearly demarcating the economic policies pursued by the their Government since 1991, and that of the BJP- led alliance since 1998.

The Congress(I) has been successful in ensuring an element of unity in the UDF. It has been able to ensure the support of all its constituents, including the IUML, on several issues. In the Assembly, the UDF staged a combined walkout over the Kollam S.N. College issue, and last week on the police scheme.

There are, of course, a few irritants between the IUML and the Congress(I) regarding the control of certain local bodies. The KPCC(I) has issued instructions to its local leadership to address the problems faced by the IUML.

Therefore, the timing of Mr. Antony's confession is also significant, as it has come when the UDF partners believe that their relations are at a comfortable level to function unitedly. There are three main components in Mr. Antony's statements in the last few days.

He has sought to highlight the latent dissatisfaction with the CPI(M)'s style of functioning among the LDF partners. While sending clear signals to these discontented elements, he has made it clear that they were welcome only on the basis of programmes and policies rather than on conditions which do not go beyond enjoyment of power and pelf.

It also contains recognition of the fact that the disruption of the present political system would depend much on the positions taken by their respective national leadership, something which was not immediately possible given the national political reality.

In response to a question on whether the Congress(I) had become reconciled to a coalition at the Centre, Mr. Antony told The Hindu the other day that his party did not perceive any urgency in adopting such a position. But he indicated that the party was not averse to it when the time came. No dialogues had been held at the national level with any party so far, he said.

Even as the discontentment in the LDF mounts, Mr. Antony is likely to be under considerable pressure from colleagues and coalition partners to do something more drastic.

There is a school of thought in the UDF, which strongly holds the view that dislodging the CPI(M) from power had become the most urgent item on the agenda, if only to demolish its sway on all aspects of administration, particularly the police.

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