After Bihar resurgence, is the Left finally on the right track?

Just as political commentators started writing epitaphs of the communist movement in India, it stirred back into the reckoning with an impressive showing in just-concluded Bihar assembly elections, raising hopes of its revival.

Even before Bihar happened, class politics has been made relevant in Indian politics again by a string of decisions taken by Narendra Modi’s BJP-led central government, which has severely affected a large section of labourers and peasants.

The most enduring and poignant picture of the COVID-19 epidemic in India has been the harrowing journey of lakhs of migrant workers back to their homes from cities on foot with their children in tow. The gruelling exodus was triggered by an abrupt announcement of a nationwide lockdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, blissfully unaware of the devastating consequence of his dramatic decision on India’s poor and marginalised.

The unplanned and poorly managed lockdown is not the only cause of ennui and despair though. Price rise, imposition of new farm and labour laws, move to privatise public services such as railways, wage cut, job loss among others added to the woes of proletariats.