CPI(M) meet unlikely to throw up surprises

By C. Gouridasan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT. 15. The special conference of the CPI(M) being held here from October 20 to 23 to update the party programme seems unlikely to throw up any surprise.

By all available indications, it would be a business-like session devoid of suspense of the kind that marked the 16th Party Congress at Calcutta in 1998, the high point of which was the discussion on the so called "historic blunder" of 1996 besides adoption of a softer line towards the Congress(I). Surprise, if any, would come only if the recent developments in West Bengal find an echo at the conference or strong arguments against the formulations in the draft of the updated Party Programme surface in the course of the deliberations.

The Calcutta Party Congress had rejected the "historic blunder" thesis which implied that the CPI(M) Central committee had erred in not allowing Mr. Jyoti Basu to head the United Front Government when the offer came on a platter. Of the roughly 700 delegates who took part in the Calcutta Congress, 440 had endorsed the Central committee decision. At the special conference this week, the CPI(M) would perform an about-turn and amend para 112 of the Party Programme to avert a 1996 in future.

The proposal, opposed ever so vehemently by comrades from Kerala at the Calcutta Congress, appears to have become a fait accompli now. The politburo and the Central committee have already approved the draft amendment to this effect and has been incorporated in the draft of the updated Party Programme. The party, the draft amendment says, can participate in Governments both in the States and at the Centre "without falling prey to parliamentary illusions".

The CPI(M) general secretary, Mr. Harkishen Singh Surjeet's letter to the NDA constituents urging them to review their alliance with the BJP and his statement that the Third Front concept is still very much relevant may have meanings linked to his party's new-found readiness to play a more proactive role in the emerging political situation in the country. Whether the NDA constituents would give a fig to his letter is anybody's guess. What matters more is the way it opens up new possibilities, especially at a time when the CPI(M) as a part is willing to play ball.

Apart from the question of participating in Central Governments, the exercise at updating the Party Programme would cover the CPI(M)'s understanding of the developments of the 20th century, particularly the setbacks to socialism in the '90s, the changes in the international correlation of forces in favour of imperialism, world capitalism's monopolisation of wealth generated by scientific and technological revolutions, internationalisation of finance capital and legalisation of exploitation through institutions such as the IMF, World Bank and the WTO.

The draft of the updated Party Programme shows signs of the CPI(M) coming to grips with the times, though far from sufficiently and convincingly, mainly in respect of the new world financial order. Thus, in a significant departure from its current position, the CPI(M) does show a willingness to allow foreign direct investment in select spheres in order "to acquire new technologies and to enhance productivity".

The updated programme points out that "indiscriminate entry of foreign capital is affecting vital sectors of domestic industry. Multinational companies are buying up Indian companies. Even though some sections of non-big bourgeoisie appear willing to collaborate with foreign capital, large sections of the medium and small capitalists are badly hit by liberalisation".

The updated programme, to be adopted by the 401 delegates expected to attend the conference, concludes that "Despite the fact that the international correlation of forces favours imperialism at the end of the 20th century and capitalism continues to develop productive forces with the application of new scientific and technological advances, it remains a system of oppression, exploitation and injustice. The only system which is an alternative to capitalism is socialism".

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