In a recent analysis of their performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) has identified several factors that contributed to their electoral debacle. The report, released on July 4, highlights the adverse impact of Hindu sentiments and caste influence on the party’s vote base. Additionally, the report points to the arrogance of party workers, even at lower ranks, as a significant factor driving people away from the party.
The Central Committee’s findings indicate a troubling shift of traditional CPM votes to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), particularly in the Alappuzha and Attingal constituencies. Alarmingly, Congress votes and a segment of Christian votes were also cast in favor of the BJP. The party’s traditional vote base eroded further due to economic depression in the coir, cashew, and handloom sectors, coupled with the weakened state of trade unions.
The report calls for urgent measures to address corruption in cooperative institutions and panchayats, which have further eroded voter trust. It also notes that minorities largely supported the Congress, the largest constituent of the INDI Alliance, as the Left Front was not perceived as a major contender.
The fiscal deficit faced by the state government, exacerbated by what the report describes as the “union government’s discriminatory policy,” and the failure to disburse welfare pensions and DA arrears are cited as additional reasons for the electoral setback. The CPM believes that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the media launched a negative propaganda campaign against the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
The influential community organization of Hindu Ezhavas, the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP Yogam), supported the BJP, further weakening the CPM’s position. The report expresses concern over the BJP and RSS’s social work around worship centers, which allegedly propagated ‘Hindutva Politics’ and ‘anti-minority propaganda,’ influencing voter behavior.
The party’s vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections dropped to 33.35% from 40.2% in 2014. The CPM also blamed its Bengal unit and the Left Front for poor performance, with the party securing second place in only one constituency, Murshidabad. The report alleges irregularities in the Tripura polls and does not accept the results as the true people’s mandate.
This Central Committee report appears to be just the tip of the iceberg. Reports from several district committees, widely covered by mainstream media, have raised similar concerns about the arrogance of party leaders. Regional meetings with grassroots workers echoed these sentiments, indicating that the CPM is facing significant internal strife.
As the CPM grapples with these revelations, the party acknowledges the need for introspection and corrective measures to regain voter trust and rebuild its base. The path forward will require addressing the highlighted issues comprehensively and restoring confidence among its supporters.
