Interview | CPM leader MA Baby: 'Anvar can only create a temporary smokescreen'

Politburo member and veteran Marxist MA Baby said the main reason the CPI(M) suffered a rout in the Lok Sabha elections was that most voters in Kerala felt the Congress was in a better position to keep the RSS-controlled BJP out of power.

Denying that the CPI(M) stand on the minorities derailed the party in the parliamentary battle, Baby also told The Federal that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will organize nationwide Palestine solidarity marches on October 7, the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.

Also Read: Ground Report | Will Anvar's rebellion cost LDF Muslim support in Malabar region?

The CPI(M) in Kerala is going through one of the roughest patches in recent history, with multiple controversies surrounding the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government.. The latest episode involves Left-backed independent MLA PV Anvar severing ties with the party. 

Excerpts from the interview.

The party and the government are weathering a tricky situation in Kerala, with MLA Anvar severing ties and posing a new challenge. Do you consider this a crisis, and what is your way forward from here?

There is indeed a situation in Kerala but it’s not something the party and the government cannot manage or resolve. As far as Anvar’s case is concerned, it’s unusual for an independent MLA aligned with the Left to take such a stance. I don’t believe this is his individual decision, as there seems to be no clear reason for it.

Even though he is not a party member, he has access to all key leaders, including the Chief Minister, who even stayed at his home during the Nava Kerala Yatra, reflecting their close relationship. Speaking openly about these matters in press conferences doesn’t just come from his ignorance of any party discipline.

However, I don’t think this will have a significant impact among party cadres or sympathizers. It’s unlikely there will be any real erosion of support. At most, there may be temporary confusion or a smokescreen. That said, the Opposition UDF and BJP may seize upon his words to level accusations against the CPI(M) and LDF. Still, these are not problems that the CPI(M), LDF and the government cannot resolve.

Anvar has raised a serious issue about the ‘saffronisation’ of state machinery, including the police. Even leaders within the Left, like Annie Raja, have openly expressed similar concerns. How do you respond to this?

In contemporary India, ‘saffronisation’ is happening across society, and it’s a hard reality. Even though the BJP’s seat count has decreased this time, its vote share remains largely intact. This suggests they gained support in new regions, including Kerala. Although it didn’t result in seats, they made inroads into Tamil Nadu as well.

The influence of the Sangh Parivar likely extends to the civil service and the police as it does in other parts of society. We’ve received reports of RSS leaders summoning civil service officers from different states for meetings. These officers will naturally align with the BJP leaders ruling the country for a third term, for their personal gains so I’m not surprised by any of this.

This isn’t new, but here it is being framed as if Pinarayi Vijayan sent the ADGP for negotiations, which is completely absurd. Is Pinarayi that naive? It’s complete fiction, and I honestly feel sorry for the media celebrating this.

The CPI(M) state secretary seems to be downplaying the issue, saying, ‘Let him meet anyone, we don’t care.’ By trivializing it, isn’t he sending the message that the party isn’t concerned about such meetings?

Everyone has their own way of expressing things, and I’m not here to comment on that. I can’t say whether his choice of words was right or wrong, as I haven’t seen the response. What he might have meant is that if an RSS leader, from the organization effectively controlling the Union government, wants an officer to meet, the officer would likely go. Even if the RSS leader called the chief secretary, they might go, perhaps informing the chief minister. The focus here should be on discussing and criticizing the RSS leader’s intervention, bypassing constitutional norms. What is happening now is the attempt to make a smoke screen around this issue.

Do you think the party’s pro-minority stance played a role in its poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections? Has the party conducted an internal analysis to explore whether this was a factor contributing to the electoral setback?

It’s true that our correct political stance on the minority issue was misrepresented by some opponents, which may have influenced public perception. However, it’s difficult to determine whether it had any real impact on the voters. While there was some speculation along these lines, the party hasn’t officially reached any such conclusions. That said, when addressing issues concerning any community, we must be cautious in clearly conveying our position to avoid misinterpretations.

The main reason for our setback lies in national politics. The majority of people in Kerala want to keep the RSS-controlled BJP out of power. They likely felt that the Congress was in a better position to achieve that. The Congress also campaigned heavily, suggesting that the CPI(M) wouldn’t be part of the Union government. Some even argued that if you want to vote for the Left, you should do so in Assembly or local elections. This played a significant role in the outcome.

In light of MLA Anvar’s revolt, does the party need to reassess its strategy? I understand the party was already working on regaining the trust of the OBC community following the Lok Sabha elections. With Anvar now adopting an identity-based pro-minority stance, what adjustments should the party make to its approach?

When it comes to the minorities, it’s a fact that the Left parties took the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) issue very seriously, while the Congress, despite including it in their draft, omitted it from their final manifesto. Yet, this didn’t stop minorities from voting for them.

We, on the other hand, have much to say to those who are willing to listen honestly. Our pro-minority stance is deeply rooted in history. From the 1921 revolt to the formation of Malappuram district, we have maintained the same political position and we will go ahead with our political convictions

Given the current situation in the Middle East, one would expect the CPI(M) and the Left to be actively participating in pro-Palestine and anti-Israel protests. However, it seems something is holding you back from taking to the streets. Is that correct? What factors are influencing this decision?

No, there is no dilution in our political stance whatsoever. The recently concluded central committee of the party has decided to hold demonstrations on October 7 across the country, condemning Israel’s aggression and invasion and marking the first anniversary of the ongoing Middle East conflict. The All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation is planning another massive event in Thiruvananthapuram on October 15. The Congress will also be invited to participate if they are willing.

In recent times, the chief minister and the state party have frequently expressed concerns about media coverage, alleging that it is driven by ulterior motives that undermine both the government and the party’s objectives. What specific issues or narratives have prompted these accusations?

There is limited visibility of the Left in Kerala’s media, likely due to the financial interests of media houses with anti-Left agendas. The Left stands as the primary obstacle to their plans… The Left offers an alternative vision, which is why there seems to be an effort to eliminate it. Both the BJP and Congress are linked by crony capitalism, and this media blackout appears to be part of an unseen conspiracy.

This goes beyond the chief minister's misquotation and includes false news about the state, such as after the Wayanad memorandum. Misrepresenting the state’s budget as extravagant spending seems like a deliberate attempt to deny Kerala its rightful share, a narrative pushed by both the BJP and the UDF.

Is there a lack of coordination between the party and the government? It seems the party and the chief minister are not on the same page regarding certain issues. Within the LDF, the CPI has occasionally voiced differing opinions publicly. How do you view this situation?

Coordination within the party is ongoing as usual. The party state secretariat meets weekly, with key ministers from finance, industries, PWD and the chief minister present. We discuss all matters in detail, and if any shortcomings arise, they are addressed the following week. There is no miscoordination—what’s being spread is misinformation.

Both communist parties maintain a unified and cordial relationship at both the national and state levels, and we haven’t encountered any significant issues. There could be differing interpretations by the media though which are common, and differences of opinion -- reflected even in party mouthpieces --are normal as well. However, in my opinion these matters should be discussed and resolved internally. Making them public is not desirable.

With the passing of Sitara Yechury, your long-time friend and comrade, how do you envision a party congress without Sitaram? What impact do you think his absence will have on the discussions and direction of the party moving forward?

His absence is irreparable; his untimely death is utterly unacceptable, especially as our party prepares for its 24^th congress. This congress is crucial for outlining programmes to address the challenges facing both our country and our party. However, we have no choice but to harness our resources and strengths to face this situation collectively. We shall overcome.