CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby called for stronger unity within the INDIA Bloc to effectively challenge the BJP-led NDA, urging alliance partners to introspect on the 2024 Lok Sabha election results. He emphasized opposition coordination, people-centric politics, democratic values, and collective efforts to emerge as a credible national alternative.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary M.A. Baby on Friday called upon all constituent parties of the opposition INDIA Bloc to undertake sincere introspection following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and work collectively towards strengthening opposition unity to effectively challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in future political battles.
Addressing media persons in Agartala, the veteran Left leader asserted that the INDIA Bloc continues to remain a viable and relevant platform capable of providing a credible political alternative to the BJP and its allies. However, he maintained that a greater degree of unity, realism, and accommodation among alliance partners could have significantly altered the electoral outcome in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
According to Baby, the opposition alliance missed an opportunity to maximize its electoral potential due to insufficient coordination among constituent parties. He argued that a broader and more effective seat-sharing arrangement across the country could have substantially improved the opposition’s performance.
“If the INDIA Bloc parties had been more united, realistic and accommodating, there was a greater possibility of defeating the BJP and its allies,” Baby said while reflecting on the election outcome.
The CPI(M) General Secretary credited the INDIA Bloc with playing a crucial role in reducing the BJP’s parliamentary strength. He noted that the BJP no longer enjoys an independent majority in the Lok Sabha and now depends on key allies such as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United) to sustain the NDA government at the Centre.
Baby claimed that if the opposition alliance had succeeded in fielding common candidates in approximately 400 of the country’s 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, the BJP’s electoral prospects could have been significantly weakened.
He emphasized that all constituent parties within the INDIA Bloc, regardless of their size or electoral strength, should be treated with equal respect and given meaningful participation in collective decision-making processes. According to him, mutual trust and cooperation are essential for ensuring the alliance’s long-term effectiveness.
The veteran Left leader further stressed that political differences among alliance partners should not translate into hostility. While acknowledging that electoral contests between alliance members may occasionally be unavoidable due to regional political realities, he urged all parties to maintain decorum, dignity, and mutual respect.
“We should not fight among ourselves. Instead, we should focus on issues concerning the people,” Baby said, emphasizing the need to prioritize public welfare over political rivalries.
Reiterating the CPI(M)’s commitment to opposition unity, Baby stated that Left parties would continue efforts to strengthen coordination among INDIA Bloc constituents and build a broader democratic movement capable of challenging the BJP-led NDA.
Throughout his address, Baby repeatedly emphasized the importance of focusing on issues affecting ordinary citizens, including unemployment, inflation, farmers’ distress, workers’ rights, education, and social welfare. He argued that opposition politics must remain rooted in people’s concerns rather than electoral calculations alone.
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP-led NDA government, Baby alleged that the policies pursued over the last decade have contributed to rising economic inequality and weakened democratic institutions. He claimed that workers, farmers, students, and marginalized communities have suffered under the current administration’s economic and governance policies.
According to the CPI(M) leader, India has witnessed an unprecedented concentration of wealth during the NDA’s tenure. Referring to international studies, he argued that economic inequality has reached alarming levels and alleged that wealth accumulation among a small section of society has surpassed historical benchmarks.
Baby accused the Central Government of failing to adequately address pressing socio-economic challenges, including unemployment, rising living costs, agrarian distress, and labor-related issues. He alleged that policy decisions increasingly favor large corporate interests while neglecting the concerns of ordinary citizens.
Criticizing recently introduced labor reforms and proposed electricity sector changes, Baby argued that these measures benefit major corporate groups at the expense of workers, farmers, and economically vulnerable populations. He further alleged that the influence of corporate interests on policymaking has increased substantially under the NDA government.
The CPI(M) General Secretary also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over repeated examination-related controversies. He referred to alleged irregularities and paper leak incidents involving major examinations, including NEET and various recruitment and academic tests conducted through the National Testing Agency (NTA).
According to Baby, repeated examination controversies have created uncertainty and anxiety among lakhs of students and job seekers across the country. He alleged that the government has failed to ensure transparency and accountability in the conduct of national-level examinations.
The Left leader additionally raised concerns regarding public health and pharmaceutical regulation. Referring to reported deaths of children allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrup in different regions, he accused authorities of inadequate regulatory oversight and called for stricter monitoring of pharmaceutical manufacturing practices.
Highlighting the performance of Left governments in states where they have held power, Baby argued that CPI(M)-led administrations have consistently focused on welfare-oriented governance. He cited examples from Kerala, West Bengal, and Tripura, claiming that Left governments have implemented policies aimed at improving the living conditions of various sections of society.
Particularly emphasizing Kerala’s development model, Baby asserted that the state has made significant progress in reducing extreme poverty through welfare initiatives and social development programs implemented by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
Reflecting on recent electoral setbacks faced by the CPI(M) and the Left Front, Baby said the party has already begun a process of introspection to understand the reasons behind its performance. He acknowledged that organizational shortcomings and strategic weaknesses need to be addressed.
“We will introspect, correct our shortcomings and further strengthen the party organisation,” he said.
The CPI(M) General Secretary noted that the party is undertaking a comprehensive review of its functioning and preparing itself for future political challenges. He emphasized efforts to bring more women and younger leaders into organizational and leadership roles as part of a broader process of political renewal.
Referring to recent organizational developments, Baby pointed to the departure of veteran West Bengal Communist leader Biman Bose from the CPI(M) Politburo as an example of the party’s commitment to generational transition and leadership development.
Turning his attention to Tripura, Baby described the unity between tribal and non-tribal communities as one of the state’s most inspiring features. He emphasized the importance of preserving social harmony and strengthening bonds among different communities.
Referring to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which covers nearly two-thirds of the state’s geographical area, he stressed that maintaining unity and cooperation among all sections of society remains essential for the state’s development and stability.
Baby expressed concern over the increasing prominence of identity-based politics, caste mobilization, and religion-centric political campaigns across various parts of the country. He argued that such political trends risk deepening social divisions and distracting public attention from fundamental issues such as employment, education, healthcare, and economic development.
According to him, communal politics and competitive polarization have emerged in several states, creating tensions between different communities and weakening democratic values. He warned against attempts to exploit social and ethnic differences for electoral gain.
The CPI(M) leader specifically cautioned against efforts to create divisions between tribal and non-tribal populations and urged political parties to promote harmony rather than conflict.
Baby also alleged that the BJP has sought to expand its political influence through defections and mergers involving leaders and parties from across the political spectrum. He claimed such strategies are designed primarily to consolidate political power rather than strengthen democratic institutions.
On the issue of women’s political representation, Baby expressed reservations regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill. He alleged that the BJP intends to link the implementation of the legislation with future delimitation exercises, raising concerns about the political implications of such a move.
Reaffirming the CPI(M)’s broader political objective, Baby stated that opposition parties must unite to defend democratic values and counter what he described as the BJP’s ideological and political agenda.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening Left unity across the country. According to him, various Left organizations are increasingly working together on issues affecting workers, farmers, youth, women, and marginalized communities.
“Whenever ordinary people, workers, peasants, marginalised and downtrodden sections face injustice, the Left will stand with them,” Baby said.
Concluding his remarks, the CPI(M) General Secretary said that changing political conditions have opened a new phase for the Left movement in India. He expressed confidence that through introspection, organizational strengthening, and closer engagement with people’s issues, Left parties and opposition forces can emerge stronger in the years ahead.
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Baby also voiced concern over ongoing international conflicts and military actions in various parts of the world, emphasizing the need for peace and expressing concern about civilian casualties and humanitarian suffering in conflict zones.
The CPI(M) leader’s remarks underscore the party’s continued focus on opposition unity, democratic rights, social justice, and people-centric politics as it seeks to reposition itself and the broader INDIA Bloc ahead of future electoral contests.
