THERE WERE SEVERAL new elements at the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s 23rd party congress in Kannur, Kerala —from the unisex uniforms of the volunteers (red shirt and khaki trousers) and increased participation of women to the unusual pomp and show on display. The most obvious change, though, was the show of unity from the leaders. “There were discussions, but no differences. That is the speciality of this party congress,” said party general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
The comrades all spoke in one voice. That voice, though, was of the Kerala unit. “The congress saw a complete domination of the Kerala unit over the rest of the party,” said activist and writer M.N. Pearson. “Whether it be the issue of an alliance with the Congress or its approach towards development, everyone listened to the comrades in Kerala because they had come to power for a second time when party units in the rest of the country were languishing. Only the winners get to be heard.”
The story had been different at the previous two congresses. At the end of both, the party was a divided house with bitterness between the factions led by Yechury and former general secretary Prakash Karat. The bone of contention was an alliance with the Congress. While Yechury and the West Bengal faction batted for it, Karat and the Kerala team said no.
Denne historien er fra April 24, 2022-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 24, 2022-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
