CPM Leader Evades SDPI Support Question, Challenges UDF on Jamaat-e-Islami
In a significant political development in Kannur, Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary M V Govindan on Thursday declined to provide any clarification regarding his party's official position on the Social Democratic Party of India's (SDPI) potential support to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the upcoming Kerala assembly elections. The veteran leader's refusal came during a media interaction where journalists pressed him for a definitive statement on this contentious issue.
Deflection Strategy: Pointing Fingers at UDF
When directly questioned by reporters about whether the LDF would accept or reject SDPI votes, Govindan responded with a counter-question that shifted the focus to the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF). "Why should the LDF declare its stand on rejecting SDPI votes until the UDF first turns down Jamaat-e-Islami's support?" Govindan challenged, establishing what appears to be a strategic political condition before any clarification from his own coalition.
The CPM leader elaborated further on this position, stating: "You agree that Jamaat-e-Islami's vote is communal, but the UDF has not said that they don't need it. If the UDF first rejects Jamaat-e-Islami's votes, LDF would clarify its stance on SDPI support." This statement effectively creates a political quid pro quo situation where one front's declaration depends on the other's action.
Avoiding Direct Characterization of SDPI
When journalists specifically asked whether SDPI should be considered a communal organization, Govindan avoided giving a straightforward answer. Instead, he suggested that "many factors should be checked to make a clarification in this regard," indicating a reluctance to categorize the party definitively while maintaining diplomatic ambiguity.
Govindan went on to criticize the UDF's position, or lack thereof, on the matter: "UDF has not said they don't need support of SDPI or Jamaat-e-Islami." This criticism serves to highlight what the CPM leader perceives as hypocrisy or inconsistency in the opposition's approach to dealing with religiously-aligned political groups.
Asserting Communist Party's Ideological Clarity
Despite his refusal to clarify the specific electoral stance regarding SDPI, Govindan emphasized that the Communist party maintains a clear and principled position when it comes to identifying communal parties, extremist groups, and democratic bodies. This assertion appears designed to reinforce the party's ideological credentials while avoiding practical electoral commitments that might prove controversial.
The exchange highlights the complex political calculations both major fronts in Kerala are making as they approach the assembly elections, particularly regarding how to handle support from religious and community-based political organizations without alienating their core constituencies or violating their stated principles.
