Will CPI(M) and Bahujan parties come together in Telangana? Observers sceptical

Political analyst Jeevan Kumar of Human Rights Forum said, "While the idea is laudable, first CPI-CPI(M) should come together to make such grand deals possible."
Will CPI(M) and Bahujan parties come together in Telangana? Observers sceptical
Will CPI(M) and Bahujan parties come together in Telangana? Observers sceptical
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"We won't join hands with TRS. We won't help Congress either to come to power. BLF will contest all the 119 assembly seats to come to power and implement the agenda of Bahujans,” said CPI(M) Telangana state secretary Tammineni Veerabadram at the 22nd National Conference in Hyderabad. 

He said this while inviting forces working for social justice and Bahujan (an umbrella word for SC,ST and BC, Minorities) to join hands with CPI(M).

CPI(M) has a clear road map for the 2019 general elections, at least in Telangana. Though there has been a buzz about Bahujan Left Front (BLF) being led by CPI(M), CPI and other left parties for quite some time, this fresh announcement has made it clear that CPI(M) may go ahead with BLF.

However, while CPI(M) calls for 'Neel-Laal unity’, key players such as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) - a popular Dalit sub-caste organisation that is working for internal classification of SCs for more than 25 years, can’t be ignored.

Despite being a national party and having a huge section of its target groups (SC,ST, BC and Minorities) in Telangana, BSP has less presence in the state. In 2014 ,BSP had sent two MLAs to the assembly who later shifted their loyalties to the ruling TRS.

Recently, a national representative of BSP and the state leadership met with Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan.

When TNM asked if the state unit has any plans of an alliance with forces that are 'fighting' for social justice in Telangana, BSP state President M Balaiah said, "The decision needs to be taken at the top. The two (BSP-CPI(M)) are national parties, Sitaram Yechury and Behenji (Mayawati) may hold talks, they will take a decision."

On whether BSP sees the BLF led by CPI(M ) as an alternative or ideal partner, he said, "We can't say anything at this point.”

The political significance of MRPS, which is up in arms against the ruling TRS government, cannot be understated. In December, it's leader Manda Krishna Madiga was jailed in the wake of agitations, on charges of disrupting law and order and rioting. In 2014, Krishna Madiga contested from Warangal's Varadannapeta constituency with the backing of BJP. R Lingaswamy, an MRPS spokesperson told TNM that at the moment, MRPS can't comment on the CPI(M)'s invitation to join the Bahujan Left Front.

Another key man, Prof Kodandaram, who was once KCR's key confidant during the movement for a separate Telangana state, too has political stakes. Kodandaram recently launched his own party, Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS). Speaking to TNM, he said, "We can only talk about the coalitions after formation meeting."

The academic-turned-politician got permission for his upcoming public meeting following a legal tussle.

When asked if TJS would be joining the BLF in order to further the "common agenda" of unseating TRS, he said, "Ours is a slightly bigger agenda. We want to change the politics in Telangana. We are not fighting against a few people, but we are fighting against corrupt practices and autocratic governance.”

Viewing it as a positive development, political observers who are keen on the rise of Bahujan Left Front feel that bringing these groups together under one roof is "not a cakewalk."

Observers point to the lack of a collective stand on different issues by these groups having so called "common agenda”, as the main drawback.

Speaking to TNM, political analyst Jeevan Kumar of Human Rights Forum, Telugu states co-ordinator said, "While the idea is laudable, first CPI-CPI(M) should come together to make such grand deals possible."

Jeevan Kumar observed that the CPI and CPI(M) failed to have discussions on the issue of development following the bifurcation of the state. He said, "Unless they create an alternative development discourse, discussions are not possible”.

Several people have also been criticising the CPI(M) for failing to accommodate any Dalit or Adivasi in the party Politburo, despite claiming to be a pro-Bahujan stalwart.

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