Mallikarjun Kharge has advantage over Shashi Tharoor due to experience, says D. Raja

CPI will formulate alternative economic programmes for every sector at its 24th Party Congress to be held from October 14 in Vijayawada

The Communist Party of India (CPI) will formulate alternative economic programmes for every sector at its 24th Party Congress to be held from October 14 in Vijayawada, as part of efforts to counter the neo-liberal onslaught of the BJP-led Union Government, CPI General Secretary D. Raja has said. In an interview to The Hindu on the sidelines of the party's State Conference in Kerala, he called on the Congress party to accept the new situation and be accommodative to other parties.

"The regional parties, including former allies of the BJP, have all learned the lessons and are doing serious introspection. Through their own experience, they understand that BJP spells disaster. We hope this realisation will fuel the emerging of a united movement across the country to oust the BJP-RSS from power. But, the Congress should not think everything is as it is in the past. They should revise their strategies and economic policies. They cannot say that they are not opposed to privatisation, but only to the way it is done. They should at least revert back to Nehruvian economics. Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is alright as a political campaign, but they must do it with all sincerity. The BJP cannot be fought in its own track, by claiming that you are a better Hindu," said Mr.Raja.

On the ongoing leadership battle in the Congress, he feels that Mallikarjun Kharge has an advantage over Shashi Tharoor due to his experience.

"Kharge has the advantage of being one of the senior-most politicians in the country, who knows who to reach out to other parties. Even some of the G-23 leaders seem to be backing him. Tharoor is relatively young and new, but India is a country with a considerable population of young people with aspirations. How these factors will work out, we will have to wait and see," he said.

Mr. Raja expounded on the idea of Left unity, which is being raised with renewed vigour in a changed political context.

"We have been speaking for some time, but it takes time. For left parties to come together, there must be mutual trust and accommodation. That is what we are trying. When Comrade Surjeet was the General Secretary of the CPI(M) and Comrade Indrajeet was heading the CPI, we sent out a joint circular to establish state-level coordination committees between the CPI(M) and CPI. That process could not be continued. But, now there is realisation that the Communist movement must come together. That is why we have been talking about unification of the Communist movement on a principle basis," he said.

Ahead of the State Conference, the CPI in Kerala has been beset with controversies with senior leaders K.E. Ismail and C. Divakaran opposing the 75-year age limit set for CPI State council members, seeing it as a ploy to keep them out of the top decision-making bodies of the party. There have also been reports of attempts to challenge State Secretary Kanam Rajendran's bid for a third term. Mr.Raja said that all such issues will be settled.