PRAGOTI

 Dear Anonymous,
 
Yes, indeed, the Left parties released a statement which among all other things mentioned about Presidential elections. The statement in this regard says that it held a "preliminary discussion on the forthcoming presidential election" and not a FINAL DECISION. Secondly, they pointed out that it would be better if there is a "wide agreement" on a candidate for the post of President. It seems that there were DISAGREEMENTS within the Left parties on the presidential candidate as on 21st June it became clear that the CPI and RSP has unambiguously stated that they are unable to support the Congress backed Presidential candidate and thus they would abstain. Thus, there were no "wide agreement" among the Left parties on a candidate for Presidential elections. Now, if there was no "wide agreement" on a candidate among the Left parties, it is rather strange how a constituent of the Left Front justifies its position in supporting a Presidential candidate by taking into consideration of a number of non-Left parties "acceptance" as "widest acceptance". Moreover, the decison on the Presidential election was not taken by making a broader consensus within the Left by consulting lakhs of party members and supporters from the local branch level to the central committee. The Presidential election is going to be on 19th July and the Left parties took a decision on this issue on 21st June. So, what was the hurry? Why a constituent of the Left avoided a central committee meeting in taking this important decision? In 1996, it was the central committee of the CPI(M) that took the decison not to join the central government. After all, by its own constitution, the central committee is the highest authority between the two party congress. Now, a politburo decison (in which there was clear division according to media reports) has been hastily taken, it is now being communicated and imposed upon all other organisational committees from a very top down approach that lacks democratic spirit.