Kerala - Others   

People are supreme, says Sitaram Yechury

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: There is no change in the stated position of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on organisations such as the Srinarayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, the People's Democratic Party and Jamaat-e-Islami despite the support offered by them to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the coming Assembly elections in Kerala. This was asserted by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury in an interview to the India News Network (INN) that will be published in the latest issue of party organ "People's Democracy.''

Without commenting further on the issue, Mr. Yechury said the support offered by these organisations to the LDF was evidence of the growing mass appeal for the CPI(M)-led coalition in Kerala. "While the LDF, particularly the CPI(M), have consciously and unscrupulously refrained from making any appeal to any specific organisation or section of people represented by such organisations, these organisations' declaration of firm support to LDF indicates the degree of discontent with the UDF (United Democratic Front) and sense of betrayal of the promises made by UDF to garner the support of these sections in the past.''

As for the UDF claim that the LDF's inability to project a chief ministerial candidate was a reflection of its disunity, Mr. Yechury said: "Such a charge is ridiculous; that, too, coming from UDF and its leader Congress. In 2004 Parliamentary elections, Congress projected Sonia [Gandhi] as Prime Minister. The country ended up with Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. In the last elections in Kerala, Congress projected A.K. Antony as Chief Minister. Now they are facing the electorate with Oommen Chandy as Chief Minister.''

Stating that people are supreme in a democracy, Mr. Yechury said his party usually declared its chief ministerial candidate only when the incumbent Chief Minister was in contest. Otherwise, the CPI(M) decides its candidate only after the elections, he said; reiterating his party's respect for people's sovereignty.

On the Congress charge that the CPI(M) was anti-development, the Polit Bureau member said: "The CPI(M) fundamentally differs from the Congress perception of development. Being a party of ruling classes, Congress' concept of development is aimed at maximising profits by imposing greater burden on the people. Our concept of development seeks to improve the living conditions of the vast majority of people. Hence the Congress talk of CPI(M) being anti-development is another attempt to mask its anti-people and pro-rich class approach.''

Confident of a big victory for the LDF, Mr. Yechury said the Congress - with its infighting - had proved itself to be a party of opportunists and career-seekers, and not an organisation capable of delivering good governance. Not only did he predict an LDF victory, the Polit Bureau member was also confident of party candidate in Puthupally, Sindhu Joy, trouncing Mr. Chandy and emerging as a "giant killer.''

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Redefining trends in the land of rolling hills
Vote UDF back to power for development: Manmohan
People are supreme, says Sitaram Yechury
BJP confident of opening account in State: says Venkaiah Naidu
Key accused in murder case nabbed
Ravi slams BJP and CPI(M)
CPI(M) protest against denial of voting rights
Poll days declared holiday

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu