Modi managed to hack people's minds, thinking: D Raja

The undivided Communist Party of India was the main Opposition in the first Lok Sabha. In the 17th, it has declined to its lowest in Indian Parliamentary history with just five MPs in the Lok Sabha. It crumbled in West Bengal and Tripura to zero while in Kerala, it managed just one. Thanks to an alliance in Tamil Nadu, it got four seats taking the total tally to five.

CPI National Secretary D Raja spoke to DH's Shemin Joy about the election results, what it means by Narendra Modi's return and the relevance of Left despite its electoral drubbing.

The election results have put the BJP on top of India's political map. What is your analysis? From here, now where?

This is a big win for the BJP and its allies. It shows that Opposition parties failed to provide a credible, viable alternative by coming together and making seat sharing arrangements properly in every state. In the case of Tamil Nadu, the lead partner DMK was so accommodative and it was having such a foresight uniting all secular, democratic parties and conceding a reasonable number of seats to parties. The result in Tamil Nadu shows that it worked and the results are massive for the Opposition. DMK has the support of people and other coalition partners also equally got a share of that support.

So, do you think the absence of such alliances was one of the reasons for Opposition loss this time?

Only in Tamil Nadu, there was a proper alliance. In no other state, we could not provide such a united alternative. Take any state. For example, Uttar Pradesh, which is a very big state. There SP, BSP and RLD were on one side and Congress on the other. In Bihar also, it could not happen as the Left were not included. In all states except Tamil Nadu, the Opposition was divided. This is what all secular, democratic parties will have to understand.

How do you see the return of Narendra Modi to power?

With Modi coming back to power, definitely, they will further pursue their agenda of Hindutva and cultural nationalism. Everybody knows that. During the campaign, Modi could succeed thrusting these narratives. He managed to hack the minds of people. He managed to hack the thinking of people. Despite all efforts made by the Left and other parties to raise issues like unemployment and agrarian crisis, no real issues were discussed by Modi. Only Modi's narrative on nationalism, security, such things were raised. Modi coming back to power will pose larger questions and grave threats to the existence of our republic.

Do you think the vote was against the idea of a secular and democratic India?

I will not go to that extent but this vote has further endangered the idea of India which we all have been holding. Our idea of India is that it will be secular, it will home for all those who follow different faiths, that all will be equal citizens. Now that thing will be questioned. People will find it difficult to freely come out and express their dissent. In the recent past, we witnessed spontaneous revolts by farmers and marginalised sections of the country. Hereafter, maybe, this is going to be difficult. There will be a scary situation. That is why I say that the situation demands that political parties need to be more active and mobilise people.

So, what next?

I can speak for Left parties. We will have to do serious introspection. That we will do. We will have to see how to rework our political strategy, how to revamp our organisation, how to reconnect with people. All these things, we will do. Similarly, other secular, democratic parties also will have to introspect. We will have to start now itself and there is no point in waiting.

For the Left, this election has been very disappointing. If there was no alliance in DMK, the Left would have been left with just one MP in Lok Sabha. What should the Left do now?

This is one of the worst performances. No doubt. The Left will have to think. It is a serious situation. The Left parties need to think individually and collectively.

Some say the relevance of the Left is over in India. Do you think so?

No. I never agreed with that argument. Now also, I don't agree with that argument. The relevance of the communist movement will always be there. But electorally, how communists can do well in electoral battle is one question we should ponder over. In ideological and political battles, even today, communists are capable of standing up and being counted. But the question is why communists always lose electoral battles. Why? That is the issue we need to discuss. There the question of revamping organisation and reworking our strategy will come.