AIFB Reviews 15th Loksabha Election Result

The Central Secretariat of All India Forward Bloc met on 18-19 May, 2009 and reviewed the results of 15th Lok Sabha Elections.

While accepting the mandate of the people, with all modesty, the party is of the opinion that, the confusion about the stability, credibility and programme of the combination of the non-Congress (I) and non-BJP parties helped the Congress (I) to retain the power. BJP's anti minority role and the directionless and negative campaign and emphasizing some non-issues antagonized the people and was rejected by them. This also favoured the Congress (I) to come back to power.

The move for making a third front with all non-Congress(I) and non-BJP parties was right. But the Left parties and other parties of the front have failed to give a proper structure for this combination. The front partners also failed to provide an alternative national programme of governance. The leaders of the front also didn't make any nation-wide joint campaign. All these lacunae created confusion among the people about the viability of the third front. The willful campaign of Congress (I) and the BJP with the support of a section of the media about the third front also damaged the move to make the non-BJP, non-Congress (I) front.

The Congress (I) succeeded in mobilizing the minority votes infavour of them by manipulating the related facts. Although the Congress (I) deprived the minority community in many ways during their decades long regime.

The differences between the Left Democratic Front parties are the main reason for the defeat of Left Front in Kerala. The Kerala government and the LDF failed to propagate among the people about the achievements and the welfare schemes of LDF Government.

The confusion about industrialization, land acquisition and high handedness and the over dependence on bureaucracy of the Left Leaders are the reasons for the Left Front defeat in West Bengal. The unfortunate happenings in Nandigram also affected the image of the Left Front and its government. The coming together of TMC, Congress (I), Maoists, separatists and other anti-left forces in the state with the help of national and international anti-left forces have unleashed a strong vilification campaign against the Left Front Government and the Left Front in the state. This gave an edge to the anti-left forces against the Left Parties.

The LDF of Kerala and the Left Front of West Bengal should learn lesson from this setback. Sincere and open efforts must be taken for making proper course corrections. The party cadres and leaders should keep regular and intimate relation with the people. The lethargy due to power should be avoided. The partners of the fronts should maintain proper communications and respect each others' sentiments and opinions.

The All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) is of the opinion that this is a temporary setback, which gives an opportunity to all of us for self-introspection. The All India Forward Bloc will do more micro analysis after receiving the reports from different states about the election results.

The AIFB strongly believe that better coordinated Left Front throughout the country is the only alternative to the current Left coordination. The party will explore all the possibilities for developing a stable and politically oriented people's alternative against the Congress (I) and the BJP.