The Rediff Special /Surabhi Banerjee
'If this government emulates
the Congress, it will not be possible to keep it in office for
long'
In 1996, Basu completed fifty years in electoral politics, and
had become chief minister of West Bengal for a record fifth time.
He would have become Indian's oldest prime minister if his own
party hadn't raised objections. What did he see as his priorities
at this time?
According to him there were two things he intended to focus on.
The first was attempting to look for ways to revitalise his own
party which had lost a bit of ground to other parties. The more
pressing problem was to support the United Front at the Centre;
in addition, the CPI-M would have to oppose the government whenever
it was headed in the wrong direction, though the criticism would
need to be constructive at all times.
Says Basu: ''The United Front
will have difficulty as they have no experience of running a multi-party
government as we have. That is why we are trying to convince them
that in spite of all difficulties, they must work together. Unanimity
in all matters may not be possible, but it is possible to agree
on many matters and work together. Our policy is how to oppose
this government in some matters and support it in others. But
we do want this government to continue. If this government emulates
the Congress, it will not be possible to keep it in office for
long. We may have many differences of opinion in economic and
social fields, but our main task now is to prevent the BJP from
coming to power.'' Basu told his state committee as well as the
CPI-M leadership that the party would have to ensure that the
UF implemented its common minimum programme.
''Unlike the Left Front governments in India,'' Basu says, ''whether
committees exist to help in the implementation of programmes placed
before the people, the constituents of the UF government and their
supporters had no such common programme. After the general election
the UF came into existence with a common minimum programme and
a steering committee was formed to guide the government. For the
CPI--M the task is not only difficult but complicated as well
because while it is pledged to help the government it also reserves
the right to criticise it and organise movements whenever necessary.
It is a new experiment unlike that during the Janata government
when there were no commonly worked out programmes nor a steering
committee. Only time and experience will show the effect of this
stand and policy.'' He adds, ''In any event the unity of the left
parties has to be separately maintained despite the visions among
them in regard to joining the UF government.''
Excerpted from Jyoti Basu, by Surabhi Banerjee, Viking, 1997, Rs 400, with
the publisher's permission.
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