The Hindu : CPI(M) close to deal with Congress

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Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004

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National - Elections 2004

CPI(M) close to deal with Congress

Previous attempts by the CPI(M) to establish a foothold in the State have been thwarted by the hegemony of the regional parties.

Marcus Dam

Gangtok

For the first time in Sikkim's electoral history, a formal understanding is likely between the CPI (M) and the Congress for the coming Assembly polls. Talks between the leaders of the two parties have made substantial headway, with the CPI (M) setting its sights on at least two of the 32 seats that are up for grabs in this Himalayan State.

The West Bengal Minister for Urban Development, Ashok Bhattacharjee, who is also the CPI (M) MLA from Siliguri, has been entrusted the job of overseeing matters in Sikkim that goes to the polls on May 10.

He and senior CPI (M) leaders of Sikkim have held initial seat-sharing discussions with the Congress leader and former Chief Minister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari. The CPI (M) is likely to filed nominees in the rural constituencies of Chakung in the West District and in Rakdong Tintek, reserved for the Bhutia-Lepcha tribal communities, in the East District.

The CPI (M)'s attempts over the past two elections to establish a foothold in Sikkim have been thwarted by the hegemony enjoyed by regional parties which have dominated the political arena even before the State's merger with India in May 1975. It is for the same reason that the Congress, long referred to in public discourse as the "dhoti party," has not been able to make much headway here. But with Mr. Bhandari virtually winding up the Sikkim Sangram Parishad [a regional outfit he had formed] and joining the Congress last year it will now be a national party throwing the gauntlet at the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front led by the Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, in the coming polls.

According to local CPI (M) leaders, the strong caste and ethnic allegiances that determine political loyalties in Sikkim are yet another difficulty the party faces in its efforts to make inroads into the State. Senior CPI (M) leader, Anjan Upadhyay, who is playing a crucial role in the seat-sharing talks with the Congress, says the deep caste animosities in the local polity have for long kept away "parties whose leanings are defined by ideologies" from the power tussle during elections. "But at the grassroot levels the CPI(M) has set up kisan sabhas in different parts of the State over the past decade and its student wing, the Students Federation of India, is also preparing to contest in the next elections at Gangtok Government College and Namchi College."

While Mr. Bhattacharjee reiterates that the electoral understanding being worked out with the Congress "does in no way suggest an electoral alliance with the party," Mr. Upadhyay is quick to point out that "what has prompted our initiatives is the assurance given by Mr. Bhandari of shunning his autocratic ways which had made us a target while he was in power for over two terms." SDF leaders say the CPI (M)'s decision to reach a seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress will have little bearing on the verdict. The Congress says that it is imperative that a split in the anti-SDF vote is avoided wherever possible to ensure that Mr. Chamling does not return to power.

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