Communists to support secular government in India

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India 
(Marxist) met in New Delhi on May 16-17, following the national 
parliamentary elections. The following is an abridged text of a 
statement on the elections issued by the CC meeting:

Election Victory

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) hailed the verdict of the 
Indian people in the 14th Lok Sabha elections. The BJP and its 
allies have been decisively defeated. The verdict of the people 
is against the communal platform assiduously propagated by the 
RSS-BJP combine, its brazen pursuit of pro-rich, pro-big business 
economic policies and its abject capitulation to the US hegemonic 
designs.

This is a mandate given against the naked policies of 
liberalisation and privatisation which have harmed the livelihood 
of farmers, the rural poor and the common people.

The defeat of the BJP is a victory for the secular, democratic 
and Left forces. Many parties and forces have contributed to this 
historic mandate. The Central Committee congratulates all these 
parties and forces. The threat posed by the BJP and the communal 
forces continues to exist, despite their ouster from the Central 
government. All the secular and democratic forces should remain 
vigilant to foil their designs.

CPI(M) and Left Strengthened

The Central Committee expressed its deep satisfaction that the 
CPI(M) and the Left have emerged as a strengthened force. The 
Left's tally of seats is the highest registered so far since 
1952. The CPI(M) has got the highest ever tally of 44 seats. This 
is a recognition of the firm and consistent role of the CPI(M) 
and the Left in the fight against the harmful policies of BJP-led 
government and its unblemished record in defending secularism and 
national unity. The Central Committee greets the people of West 
Bengal, Kerala and Tripura who have played a major role in 
enhancing the strength and role of the Left.

Attitude to new government

The stage has been set for the formation of a secular Government 
at the Centre. The CPI(M) is of the opinion that various parties 
who have contributed to the defeat of the BJP should form the 
government. The Congress party which has the largest number of 
seats is in a position to constitute the coalition government and 
lead it.

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) decided to support such a 
government. The CPI(M) cannot be part of the Congress-led 
alliance which will form the government, but it will, in order to 
ensure a stable and viable government, extend support to it from 
outside.

The CPI(M), along with the Left, while supporting the government 
will also play an independent role in asserting the interests of 
the working people, in protecting the secular edifice and 
opposing imperialist penetration in our society.

The Central Committee appreciated the concern of a large number 
of intellectuals, prominent personalities and Left sympathisers 
that the Left should play a direct role in the government. The 
Party assures them that it will discharge its responsibilities to 
ensure that under a new government, the democratic and secular 
forces are strengthened and will in no way permit the communal 
forces to stage a come back.

The Central Committee decided that the Polit Bureau will consider 
the draft proposals for a Common Minimum Programme and take 
whatever necessary steps thereafter.

The CPI(M) and the Left parties fought these elections on a 
platform of isolating the communal forces, initiating economic 
policies which are in the interests of all sections of  the 
working people and an independent foreign policy.

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