[Marxistindia] On the 17th Lok Sabha Election Results

[news from the cpi(m)]

May 27, 2019

 

Press Communique

 

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met at New Delhi
on May 26-27, 2019. It has issued the following statement:

 

On the 17th Lok Sabha Election Results

 

Narendra Modi led BJP-NDA has secured an overwhelming and decisive mandate
in the elections to the 17th Lok Sabha. Most opposition parties, barring
those from Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and a few other states, have witnessed
a big loss in these elections.   

 

The CPI(M) and the Left have suffered a severe setback in these elections,
particularly in their strongholds.

 

The BJP could successfully shift the popular narrative away from the
multitude of livelihood issues that the last five years of the NDA
government had imposed.  The narrative built around communal nationalist
jingoism, along with the issues of fighting terrorism, brushed aside all
other issues of day-to-day concerns of the people.  

 

This was aided by the build-up of the Modi persona through a combination of
factors.  These included the effective use of technology and its instruments
of messaging to the people backed by big data analytics and micro level
social engineering.  Sections of the media partnered such projection backed
by massive money power.  The role of the Election Commission was also a
factor that permitted the build-up of such a narrative.  This process was
assisted by the vast network of RSS affiliated organisations.

 

The electoral base of the CPI(M) saw a big erosion in our strongholds.  The
Polit Bureau discussed some of the issues that led to this erosion.  The
Central Committee meeting from June 7 to 9, 2019 will discuss and adopt a
report, based on reports from the states, to draw proper lessons on the
basis of a serious introspection on the experiences of these elections.  The
State Committees in our stronger states will meet and self-critically
evaluate the Party's performance before the Central Committee meeting and,
on the basis of this, the Central Committee shall draw up the necessary
corrective measures in order to strengthen the CPI(M)'s independent strength
and its capacities of political intervention through popular struggles.

 

The CPI(M) thanks all those who have voted for its candidates, three of whom
- 2 from Tamilnadu and 1 from Kerala - have been elected to the 17th Lok
Sabha.  

 

Both in West Bengal and Tripura, these elections were held in the backdrop
of intense terror and violence.  There were large-scale reports of CPI(M)
supporters physically being prevented from voting.  Most of our
representations to implement the Election Commission's assurances to conduct
a `free and fair' poll went unattended.  During the course of the elections,
2 Left supporters have lost their lives in West Bengal and 1 in Tripura. In
both the states, post-poll violence continues. This is taking a dangerous
turn towards communal clashes.  

 

Soon after the results were declared, reports of attacks on minorities from
Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, for instance, are coming in.  This is contrary to
the PM-elect Narendra Modi's declaration that the new government will be
inclusive and will create confidence among all sections of the people (sab
ka saath, sab ka vishwas).  

 

Clearly, there are big challenges ahead for the Indian people and our
country.  The defence of our secular democratic Republic, the Constitutional
institutions, safeguarding people's rights and civil liberties and people's
livelihood issues will be the issues on which the CPI(M) strongly appeals to
the Indian people to come forward to meet these challenges. 

 

The Polit Bureau calls upon all sections of the Indian people to strengthen
the cherished harmony of our social fabric and to unitedly rise to meet the
challenges ahead.  

 

 

(Hari Singh Kang)

For CPI(M) Central Committee office

 

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