Tripura polls: Will it be 'Chalo Paltai' in CPI(M) too?

The electoral decimation of CPI(M) in Tripura where it ruled for 25 years without a break is likely to raise a chorus for 'Chalo Paltai' (Let's Change) in the party over its relationship with Congress in its fight against BJP.

The big question for CPI(M) will be how to fight the BJP and what strategy should be adopted after the saffron party's victory in a Left bastion - losing deposits in 49 of the 50 seats it contested five years ago.

Dominant factions in the CPI(M) led by General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and his predecessor Prakash Karat are crossing swords over whether to have an understanding with the Congress ahead of party's triennial conference in Hyderabad next month.

The Karat faction has so far dominated the party espousing a "big no to Congress" line and winning a vote in Central Committee last month. However, latest results will give Yechury supporters a handle to push for cooperating with all secular democratic forces, including Congress, to take on BJP.

While Yechury does not argue for an electoral front or understanding with Congress, he is against any explicit mention closing doors to Congress. The results would empower Yechury's supporters to target the Karat line, which they say is contradictory.

Pointing out that CPI(M)'s prime target is to defeat and dethrone BJP, Yechury supporters will point out that they need to pool in all resources available to tackle the saffron party. Karat will have tough time rebutting this line, as the results will give more lung power to his opponents, including the Bengal unit that has been vociferously arguing for alliance with Congress.

The immediate task before CPI(M) will be to analyse the results and find out where it went wrong. "All is well" is was what "our comrades in Tripura" told the CPI(M) central leadership till the last minute.

Anti-incumbency and failure in meeting the aspirations of people, especially youth, despite being in power for long are cited among reasons in the initial analysis. Senior party leaders also felt that the CPI(M) could not match the organisational strength of BJP, which went with the slogan 'Chalo Paltai'.

 Another reason cited by them was the total absence of Congress in electoral battle. CPI(M) was banking on Congress to cut into anti-Left votes but its absence led to consolidation of votes in favour of BJP.

The assessment that the CPI(M) could benefit from the BJP's decision to align with Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) also went awry as the results show. The CPI(M) was expecting anti-Left Bengalis to vote for them instead of Congress to defeat BJP, which has aligned with the tribals.