Has Communism Lost Its Relevance In Kerala?

Kerala has the credit for electing the first communist government in the world through ballot in 1957. Since then, the state has witnessed communist rule in the form of coalition governments many times. Progressive measures like the Land Reforms Act, and the Education Bill implemented by these governments had helped Kerala in attaining social justice and advancement in the field of education, and earned the State the reputation of being a progressive one. Leaders like AKG, EMS, MN Govindan Nair, and TV Thomas were known for their integrity and probity in public life.

Can we say the same of the crop of communist leaders we have today??? There has been a substantial deterioration in the ideological commitment of these leaders, and media are flooded with reports of various scandals involving the leading lights of the communist movement in Kerala, including the State secretary of the party, a position previously held by stalwarts like EMS. Amassing material assets has become an obsession with the party with senior party leaders hobnobbing with tainted individuals and lottery mafia to collect contributions and gifts to build the party news paper and TV channels. Beedi factories are giving way to luxury amusement parks and 5-star hospitals, and the party leadership is even mooting building a 5-star hotel in the state. When a private entrepreneur sacks an employee, it is a crime. But when their TV channel does the same, it is a good deed. In what way are they different from other parties, which according to veteran leaders like EMS, were bourgeoisie parties. Contemporary communist leaders are as much friends with the bourgeois as other parties are.

Hypocrisy and opportunism are other hallmarks of this party. Pre-degree Board is unacceptable, but higher secondary is acceptable. Express Highway is harmful to the interests of the state, but it is acceptable in another name during their regime. Madhani is a communalist if he aligns with the UDF, but is a saint if he is ready to cooperate with the Communists. Smart City was a sinful thought when they were in the Opposition, but became a virtuous project when they came to power. Whatever good things others try to do are despicable for them, but the same thing when they do becomes saintly. The leadership takes erratic decisions today, and many years later, they review the same decision and regret them.

The hypocritical stance of party leaders on developmental issues resulting from its obsession with political correctness and ideology has eroded public confidence in the Left movement. Amithab Bachan brand ambassador issue and the failure to follow up the Smart City project are shining examples of how the Left's obsession with political correctness can screw up the potential growth on the Tourism and IT fronts. If things are going like this, Communism will find itself in the waste bin of history – a favorite phrase of the Communists themselves - in a few years from now.