Opposition's INDI Alliance In Jeopardy? CPI-M Opts Out In Bengal And Kerala Amid Speculation

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has decided not to form alliances in Bengal and Kerala, where it faces rivals like Mamata Banerjee's All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and the Indian National Congress (INC).

Additionally, the CPI-M has opted not to appoint a representative for coordination meetings of the anti-BJP front.

According to media sources, CPI-M wants to distance itself from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress in Bengal. This move highlights divisions within the opposition alliance, which seeks to unite against the BJP in the upcoming national election.

These decisions were made during a meeting of the CPI-M's politburo in Delhi over the weekend. Sources indicate that these decisions are part of a strategy to prevent the division of opposition votes.

The CPI-M was notably absent from the INDI coordination committee meeting last week, leaving one seat empty in the 14-member panel.

While these decisions may come as a surprise, they are unlikely to trouble Mamata Banerjee, who has previously expressed discomfort with the idea of sharing a stage with Left leaders.

In an official statement, the CPI-M politburo mentioned its focus on strengthening and expanding the alliance but did not explicitly outline these specific decisions. It emphasised the need to keep the BJP away from controlling the union government and state power.

The politburo has supported the party's stance in the recent INDI bloc meetings held in Patna, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. They plan to organise a series of nationwide public meetings to mobilize people and work towards defeating the BJP in upcoming elections.

However, the politburo has voiced concerns about the "organisational structures" of the INDI bloc, suggesting that while leaders of constituent parties should make decisions, there should be no structures hindering these decisions.

The party has also chosen not to appoint a representative for the INDI Coordination and Election Strategy committee, a decision that follows the cancellation of the INDI rally in Bhopal by senior Congress leader Kamal Nath.

Kamal Nath had expressed concerns to his party leadership regarding the inconsistency of holding an INDI rally while the AAP has announced candidates against the Congress in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh polls.

The INDI bloc faces complex dynamics, including the rivalry between the CPI-M and Mamata Banerjee, as well as tensions between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).