- 14 minutes ago
Speaking at the India Today Roundtable, CPI(M) State Secretariat member and former Kerala minister MB Rajesh addressed the Left Democratic Front's recent electoral setback and detailed the party's introspection process. Rajesh stated that the Left conducted thorough reviews from the grassroots to the top level, identifying both objective and subjective factors behind the election results. Defending the Left's legacy, he highlighted major achievements in infrastructure development through KIIFB, high per-capita GDP growth, and strong education indicators. He dismissed allegations against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by central agencies, claiming the Enforcement Directorate is being used as a political weapon. Rajesh further alleged that the Congress-led UDF government acts as the 'B team of BJP' on key policy decisions. Asserting that the Left's core mass base remains intact, he maintained that the party will continue grassroot struggles and make a strong political comeback across Kerala and West Bengal.
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00:00Welcome, Mr. Rajesh, to the India Today Roundtable.
00:03Always a pleasure to have you here with us.
00:06A lot has changed, sir, from the last time we had you at the India Today conclave to now.
00:12You've had the last three to four months' time to also introspect on what's happened
00:17as far as the election results are concerned.
00:20You're now part of the state secretariat.
00:22Enough time to figure out what went wrong, sir?
00:24Yes, of course. In the last four months, we had a thorough introspection at various levels.
00:33Not only at the top level, but even at the grassroots level, we had a thorough introspection of what went
00:42wrong.
00:43And we have identified the reasons of our electoral debacle, and those reasons are not merely subjective.
00:51Yes, of course, there are subjective elements, subjective factors which led to the electoral loss,
00:56but there are objective factors also which contributed to the electoral setback to the left.
01:02And now we have just concluded our extended state committee meeting.
01:07As a culmination of this entire process of introspection, we concluded our extended state committee meeting,
01:15and we have taken decisions to strengthen our party, our party organization,
01:21to strengthen our ideological struggle, and we have identified our political responsibilities in the state.
01:32We have also decided to modernize our party in order to face, to meet the challenges of the time.
01:41Do you think, and is that then your way of saying, sir, that one of the issues was that the
01:48people felt
01:49that there was a need for a younger leadership, for younger blood to be brought into the party?
01:55See, we had always promoted young leaders, especially in elections, in last assembly elections,
02:06and before that also, we had fielded, I think, more than two dozen young candidates,
02:13mainly from the student and youth front, and most of them had won that elections.
02:19And, yes, in party leadership also, we are bringing new faces.
02:27We are bringing young leaders to the state committee and to the state secretary.
02:31The recently held extended state committee meeting has identified this aspect,
02:37and we have decided to invite ten young leaders and women leaders as invitees to the state committee.
02:46And this process will go on.
02:54What do you think right now is, you're talking of change, of course, that the left is bringing in.
03:00You've got now a new government that's come in.
03:02For you also, sir, from minister to opposition, how has your perspective also changed,
03:07or how you go about discharging your role now?
03:10See, the UDF government is going to complete four months in office.
03:19On September 18, they will complete four months in office.
03:23And this four months is sufficient to evaluate a government in terms of their policy direction,
03:32in terms of the Paul promise, in terms of their approach to the promises made to the people,
03:37and in terms of their handling of crisis situations, etc., etc.
03:43See, the policy direction has completely changed.
03:47The Kerala model of development was primarily the contribution of the left.
03:53The left initiated land reforms in the late 50s,
03:57and that land reforms brought about fundamental socioeconomic changes in Kerala society.
04:08Left initiated these educational reforms in 1957.
04:14All these reforms laid the foundation stone of Kerala model of development.
04:19And in the last 10 years, when left continued in power,
04:25without interruption for the last 10 years,
04:27we again modernized the Kerala model of development.
04:31It was Kerala model 2.0.
04:34And we had made immense achievements, especially in infrastructure development.
04:46Whenever we talk about Kerala model,
04:48one of the major limitations of Kerala model was low economic growth,
04:53despite high social development indicators.
04:57Did that really change, sir?
04:58On education, on health, of course, those parameters, Kerala has been very strong.
05:03Now, we have had several discussions where we have spoken of the weaknesses of Kerala.
05:08One of those is the economy not opening up enough.
05:11When you've got very competitive states around you,
05:13Kerala hasn't really been able to achieve that.
05:16The UDF constantly says that's because of the last 10 years of the left.
05:20See, what we have identified is that and what experts and economists had said was that
05:28this low economic growth is primarily due to lack of infrastructure development.
05:37And as a small state, Kerala had deficits of resources to go for huge investment in infrastructure development.
05:50So Kerala, Kerala, the government led by LDF, find a new, a novel idea to address this situation.
06:00That is KIFB, Kerala Investment and Infrastructure Fund Board.
06:04This KIFB generated, mobilized, sufficient resources.
06:09And in the last 10 years, I will tell you that 1,10,000 crores of investment was made in
06:20infrastructure projects.
06:22National Highway is an excellent example of that.
06:25Without KIFB, National Highway would not have happened.
06:28Without KIFB, this high-range hill highway would not have happened.
06:33Without KIFB, this coastal highway would not have happened.
06:38Without KIFB, hundreds of government schools would not have got this much infrastructure facilities.
06:46Without KIFB, hundreds of government hospitals would not have developed.
06:50So all these had happened in the last 10 years.
06:53And KIFB provided an opportunity to address the shortage of resources,
07:00the much-needed resources for infrastructure development.
07:02So that was a major contribution of the LDF government.
07:06And what happened after the change of government is that the UDF has decided to dismantle the KIFB.
07:13So they are going to destroy the infrastructure development that took place in Kerala.
07:19They are going to discontinue that trajectory.
07:23They are saying, sir, that the reason Kerala has an aging population today,
07:27that youngsters are constantly leaving the state because of a lack of opportunities,
07:31is because there has been no infrastructure, because there has been no focus on job generation,
07:36because there has been no focus on giving opportunities to youth in the last 10 years.
07:4010 years is a long time.
07:41Four months, you still have to wait to see whether they can do anything.
07:44See, as far as economic growth is concerned, one of the important parameters of economic growth is state domestic product
07:52growth.
07:53The growth rate of state domestic product has been higher than national average as far as Kerala is concerned in
07:59the last 10 years.
08:00And another important parameter is per capita GDP, per capita state domestic product.
08:07And Kerala is one of the top states in terms of per capita GDP.
08:12So on what basis they are saying that Kerala has lacked in terms of economic development and employment opportunities.
08:20Because one of the parameters, sir, is to see how much of your population stays on.
08:24The young leave Kerala looking for opportunities.
08:27See, it's not because of lack of opportunities.
08:31Because we are living in a liberalized world, we are living in a globalized world,
08:36and Kerala is much ahead than any other Indian state in health, in education.
08:44So, of course, naturally, the young people will explore better opportunities elsewhere in the world.
08:51So that is quite natural.
08:53But they leave the state.
08:55See, it's not because they don't have much opportunities here in Kerala.
09:01It is because our strength is human capital.
09:05And this has happened.
09:06The migration has happened throughout the history of Kerala.
09:10Throughout the history of Kerala.
09:11After the land reforms in the 70s, migration took place to Middle East.
09:17Then the second generation is now migrating to Europe and United States.
09:21It's because of Kerala's strength in education.
09:25It's because of Kerala's strength in human development.
09:28And it is because of the aspirations of people, of young people.
09:34They are exploring, and they are capable of exploring better opportunities throughout the world.
09:40They are not going for these low-paid jobs.
09:45No, they do well.
09:46I have no doubt about it that they do well.
09:47But that is, again, a testament to your education model.
09:50That still, see, that's another achievement of Kerala model of development.
09:56That is the education model, sir, which I say over and over again is hailed.
10:00Education and human development.
10:02Once they finish the education, they leave.
10:03Education, human development.
10:04And they get that quality education here.
10:07That is why they are leaving.
10:09But do you hear…
10:09They are capable of getting better opportunities in Europe and United States.
10:15Do you hear of global universities setting up in Kerala?
10:21Do you hear of massive IT parks in Kerala?
10:25I would like to remind you that the first ever IT park in India was set up in Kerala in
10:34this very city of Trivandrum.
10:35Have you heard of Technopark?
10:37That was set up by EK9R government, LDF government, led by community EK9R.
10:46Has it carried forward then?
10:48Right now, right now…
10:49Yes, we have info park in Cochin and many smaller parks throughout the state.
10:57It's not that IT exports have increased manifold in the last 10 years.
11:03Have you got data?
11:04IT exports have increased manifolds.
11:07And Kerala's startup ecosystem was ranked one of the best in the world and ranked first in Asia.
11:15So, you're saying there's no crisis?
11:17Kerala is thriving.
11:18The economy is thriving.
11:19To be frank, I'm not saying that economy was in crisis.
11:24But, yes, we had to address so many issues, challenges that we agree.
11:32And LDF government was pledged to address these challenges, these issues, etc.
11:42But, it was not a crisis.
11:46I have given data of GDP growth rates.
11:50I have given data of per capita GDP.
11:54So, all this shows that there was no crisis.
11:57I want to take a moment to talk about also the allegations against Pinarai Vijayan by the enforcement directorate.
12:04Where they've alleged in the CMRL scam, 3.28 crores was received by Mr. Vijayan through his daughter.
12:12What is your response to these allegations?
12:14See, this is not the first time that the ED and other central agencies have come out with such stories.
12:22They had come out with such stories and allegations even during Pinarai 1, during the first LDF government.
12:31You remember that gold smuggling case?
12:33So, whatever happened to that case now?
12:37Are you hearing about it now?
12:39Many such stories were planted by ED.
12:44And, all the entire media was carrying the stories dictated by ED.
12:50So, you're saying it's being used as a political tool.
12:52What is the need now, sir?
12:54Mr. Pinarai Vijayan is not in power.
12:56Still, he is the topmost leader of the left in the state.
13:00He has been in power.
13:02He was the chief minister for the 10 years.
13:05And he is the most senior leader of our party.
13:08So, now the ED is paving the way for BJP.
13:14BJP knows that they can make inroads in Kerala only by destroying the space of the left.
13:30So, that is what they are trying now.
13:33Just like they did in Bengal, they are trying to occupy the space of the left here in Kerala.
13:42So, they want to destroy and destabilize the left.
13:46That is why they are targeting Comrade Pinarai and CPIM leadership.
13:52ED has been misused throughout the country as a political tool.
13:56But which is the agency you'll trust, sir?
13:58Because now in the state you'll say, look, this is a Congress tool.
14:01It's not my fault.
14:02It is a fault of agencies.
14:03It is a fault of agencies.
14:03It is a fault of agencies.
14:04So, which agency do you trust?
14:06You should ask this question to Home Minister Amit Shah.
14:11Why you have destroyed the credibility of all agencies?
14:17Why you have done this to all agencies?
14:18So, you are saying central investigative agencies?
14:21Let me explain.
14:22State agencies.
14:22The West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhigari, was framed by ED in one corruption case.
14:29When he was in Tiranamul Congress, and he defected to BJP, he became Chief Minister, and now ED is saluting
14:38him.
14:40Himanda Vishwa Sharma was Mr. Satishan's colleague.
14:46He was the PCC President of Assam.
14:48He was framed by ED in 7,000 crore Sharada Chitfund case.
14:56He immediately defected to BJP to save himself, and he became the Chief Minister.
15:03Now ED is obediently waiting for his orders.
15:07So, this has happened.
15:09Why Comrade Pinaray Vijayan is still challenging BJP and ED while still he is a communist?
15:18He has nothing to worry.
15:20He has nothing to fear.
15:21Sir, are you suggesting that BJP is trying to bring him on board?
15:24See, BJP is trying to destroy the left.
15:28Not the Congress.
15:30No, no, no.
15:31The Congress is in power here, sir.
15:32The Congress is the big team of BJP.
15:34Sir.
15:34Let me explain.
15:37Sir, there are political rivals across the countries.
15:40BJP and the countries.
15:40If you have the patience, I will tell you how VD Satishan government has surrendered to the pressure of the
15:49BJP-led government at the center.
15:52Vande Madharam.
15:54When Satishan took court as Chief Minister, that was the first occasion in the country to sing Vande Madharam in
16:02full.
16:04The Suvendu Adhigari led BJP government's swearing-in ceremony.
16:08We have not seen this singing of Vande Madharam.
16:12But in Satishan's swearing-in, Vande Madharam was sung in full.
16:18He clarified.
16:20Today he said, no, we are for the shorter version.
16:23See, that only Satishan can do this.
16:28He will say something and do something else.
16:33So that he has got that privilege because he is Congress leader.
16:40And see, how his government has issued, his chief secretary, chief secretary is working under him, no?
16:49His chief secretary has issued an order to sing Vande Madharam in full during Independence Day celebrations in the state.
16:58And even during Onam celebration, the culmination of Onam celebration, the government issued an order asking to sing Vande Madharam
17:10in full.
17:11So what is the difference between BJP and Congress?
17:16This is against the official position taken by AICC in 1937.
17:23And now the AICC has taken a stand, sir, that they are for the shorter version of Vande Madharam, not
17:27the full version.
17:27And whether Satishan has left Congress and joined BJP?
17:32So you have given us one example.
17:34Let's see, another example.
17:36Now the BJP is operating through Lokbhavan to control all universities.
17:47From vice-stancellors to members of Senate are being appointed as the governor likes.
17:58According to his whims and fancies, appointments to universities are being made.
18:05And BJP people, ABVP leaders, RSS leaders are deployed in universities in various capacities.
18:16Neither chief minister nor the higher education minister utter a single word of protest against this.
18:26I've had Mr. Raji John here who objected to vice-chancellors attending the RSS events.
18:32But what about RSS people are being appointed as vice-chancellor?
18:36So you keep mum when RSS men are appointed as vice-chancellors and then you say that vice-chancellors should
18:45not attend RSS meet.
18:47When RSS people are there as vice-chancellors, they will attend RSS meet.
18:53So you are saying all of this is proof that Congress is B-team of BJP?
18:56Congress is B-team of BJP.
18:58Another example, I will tell you.
18:59Another example, this Wakaf board was, so there is a reconstituted, no?
19:05During LDF government.
19:07We were not ready to accept the controversial section 14 of Wakaf Act.
19:14And we had not appointed non-Muslim members to Wakaf Board.
19:20But after Sadhishin came to power, his council had informed Honorable Supreme Court that they are ready to accept controversial
19:31section 14 of Wakaf Act.
19:33And two non-Muslim members will be appointed to Wakaf Board.
19:39So what BJP wanted him to do, he is just, he is doing that.
19:46If, sir, you are saying that the BJP and the Congress are working together, conniving together to take on the
19:52left, how will the left counter that?
19:55Already there are questions about the left's relevance, because, you know, Kerala was the last state standing for the left.
20:02And then you are saying that the BJP and Congress are together trying to defeat the left.
20:06How do you stand up against something like that?
20:09Kerala is the first state in the country in 1957 to challenge the monopoly of power of the Congress.
20:19Congress, it was in Kerala, for the first time in 1957, Congress was defeated.
20:26And people of Kerala elected a communist government through ballot, and that was for the first time in Asia and
20:34second time in the world.
20:36So this is the legacy of left in Kerala.
20:41Left in Kerala had waged many struggles, socioeconomic struggles, against caste oppression,
20:48against class oppression, and for social justice, for economic justice, for better wages.
20:59So this is the legacy of the left in the state.
21:03And as I said, as I explained earlier, it was a left government which initiated land reforms and educational reforms
21:10to the recent development activities.
21:14The Kerala model was widely acclaimed throughout the world because of the left.
21:23People like Nobel laureates like Amartya Sen had acknowledged the radical politics of left in building this Kerala model of
21:36development.
21:36But now more than ever, sir, is it a question of being relevant in politics now?
21:44Because, you know, in Bengal, we saw what happened.
21:46After that election loss, the left has disappeared.
21:48They're no longer in the picture.
21:49It's a question of two other parties altogether.
21:52In Kerala, with the Congress now in power, the BJP trying to make inroads at the cost of the left,
21:56is there a question of whether left is relevant anymore in Kerala politics?
22:02See, in Bengal, what is happening now?
22:07Trinamul has completely vanished from the scene.
22:12Now the left is re-emerging.
22:13See, left is re-emerging and re-grouping.
22:16The left will not disappear.
22:19Yes, of course, there will be electoral setback for the left.
22:22And left is not merely a force meant for making electoral gains.
22:27Left will be in the streets.
22:29Left will be taking up the issues of the downtrodden, of the exploited people, peasants, workers, youth and students.
22:38Left will always be in the streets.
22:40And we will build, we will continue to build movements.
22:43So that will make us electoral dividends.
22:48That's a different story.
22:49That's a different thing.
22:51But primarily, left is not only for making electoral gains.
22:55Electoral gains will come in due course.
22:59So we are in the streets.
23:02We are fighting the Chubindu, Adhigari, like BJP governments, anti-people policies, communal divisive policies in Bengal.
23:10And here, we still have 35 seats in assembly.
23:14Don't compare with Bengal.
23:15Don't compare with Bengal.
23:18Day before yesterday, we had our extended state committee meeting, culmination rally.
23:27Lots of people attended that culmination rally.
23:30So what does it mean?
23:32And it's in the politics of Canada.
23:33What does it mean?
23:34It's not going anywhere.
23:36It's going to make a big comeback soon.
23:40It's going to make a comeback.
23:41Because one of the questions I was asked, sir, and I started off with introspection at the meeting that had
23:46happened,
23:46is whether the leader, Pinarai Vijayan, was not pulled up or was not held accountable for the party's performance in
23:55this election.
23:56Was he shielded?
23:58No, no, no, we have completed the process of introspection.
24:03And our party is not dependent on a single leader.
24:10As far as Communist Party is concerned, CPIM is concerned, it's a collective leadership.
24:16And we have decided to strengthen our collective leadership.
24:19Sir, during elections, every holding in the state of Kerala had only one picture.
24:24LDF and the picture of Pinarai Vijayan.
24:26There was no other leader.
24:27Because he was the incumbent chief minister at that time.
24:29So he was the face.
24:30He was the leader.
24:30He was the incumbent chief minister.
24:32And that's all it was.
24:34He's not the only face.
24:35Not at all.
24:36It's a collective leadership.
24:39It's a collective leadership and it will be a collective leadership.
24:43Okay.
24:44My last question to you, sir, since I see that Mr. Rajay Chandrasekhar has also arrived for our next session,
24:49is since we're talking about the left legacy, what do you think must change?
24:53The leadership of the left, the politics or your connection to the people?
24:57What is the one aspect that must change for that election result to turn around?
25:01What we have discussed is not merely about election results.
25:07As I said, we have identified several factors which has led to the electoral setback of the left.
25:16And we are in the process of making a course correction.
25:21There are many factors.
25:22As I said earlier, it was not merely subjective factors that led to electoral setback to the left.
25:28There are objective factors as well.
25:30Well, so we have analyzed that with the tool of Marxist analysis and the concrete situation we have analyzed
25:42and we have concrete plan of action to meet this challenge.
25:46So that will bring electoral gains to us.
25:52So we are not merely bothered about electoral setback or electoral gain.
25:57What is our focus is to regain the mass base of a party, to expand the mass base.
26:04That doesn't mean that our mass base is closed.
26:07It's intact, but we need to expand our mass base.
26:11So we have formulated a policy and a plan of action to expand our mass base in the coming months
26:19and coming years.
26:20Okay.
26:21You continue to maintain, sir, that the left is relevant and you will come back stronger than before.
26:26We wish you the best.
26:27Thank you very much, Mr. Rajesh, for joining us.
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