Internal CPI(M) contradictions come to the fore

New Delhi: A huge debate has erupted within the Communist Party of India (Marxist) about the evaluation of the present regime led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

An editorial published on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the in the imposition of the Emergency on June 25, 1975, in the CPI(M) central committee organ ‘Peoples Democracy’ had said that “those who are saying that the last 11 years has been an undeclared emergency are mistaken.”

Following that, the recently appointed CPIM) General Secretary, MA Baby, has publicly rubbished the editorial published in the party’s own organ and declared that for the last 11 years, the Modi government has indeed imposed “an undeclared emergency.” This statement has been published in all the state party mouth pieces, including Kerala, from where Baby and former CPI(M) general secretary and now Politburo member Prakash Karat both hail.

The editorial in the central party organ, People’s Democracy was, as is normal, published without naming the author. However, that editorial has been found to have been written by none other than Karat.

In a leading national daily, Karat has written a signed article in which he has evaluated the Modi regime saying, “however, it’s a mistake, as many do, (read including his own party General Secretary), to compare the present situation in the country with the Emergency of yore.” Karat said, “the past decade is often termed as an ‘undeclared emergency’.:. This is a misnomer,” he added in the signed article.

Now it is clear to everyone one that the editorial in the party’s mouthpiece was written by none other than Karat. Whether a comrade can openly differ with the party General Secretary is an intra-party matter. However, this clear divergence of opinion has raised questions within the party about whether the CPI(M) is heading towards another inner party struggle, resulting in a polarisation within the party rank and file about the characterization of PM Modi and his rule. Only time will tell.

The main party in the opposition India alliance, the Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has described the present Modi regime as an era of “undeclared emergency.” Baby, the General Secretary of the CPI(M), has decided to endorse the view of Congress President, a view opposed by his senior colleague Prakash Karat.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) central committee has published another issue of ‘People’s Democracy’ on 11 years of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, in which, conspicuously, there is no article by Karat. The main article, written by General Secretary Baby, has flagged the issue of the plight of the working class in the last 11years. He has given a clarion call to support a countrywide general strike on July 9, 2025, called by the Joint Platform of Trade Unions and all independent sectoral federations and associations in India.

The CPI(M) secretary general launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Modi, saying, “nothing could be further from the truth,” about a statement Modi made on Doordarshan, the national broadcaster, in which he said, “the Union government remains committed to the welfare and empowerment of workers,” adding that, “India’s workforce has remained at the heart of policy, planning, and progress over the last 11 years.”

Countering Modi, Baby said, “if anyone has truly remained at the heart of policy under this government, it is large corporate houses,..”
It is not clear why senior politburo member Prakash Karat was not asked to contribute in this latest issue of People’s Democracy. So he chose to express his views in a corporate-run newspaper.

Sources pointed out that Karat’s view on the Modi regime is different to the evaluation of the party. That could be the reason for not publishing his signed article in the party organ.

Nilotpal Basu is the Editor of People’s Democracy and usually, he writes the editorial. But after the signed article was published in a national daily by Karat, reiterating that the tenure of the Modi regime was not as “undeclared emergency,” it became clear that Karat had chosen to write that editorial in the party organ, as he often writes.

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