Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal waves to crowd after taking oath as Chief Minister at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Saturday.
CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat has said that it would be a welcome development if Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) develops into a ''serious" political alternative.
"The fact that they have been able to take on the main parties like the Congress and the BJP in Delhi shows that there is scope for alternative politics," Mr Karat told NDTV.
Mr Karat also candidly admitted that the Left needs to learn from AAP on how to communicate to the youth using technology platforms like social media. "Yes, that's an area we need to learn from the Aam Aadmi Party," he said.
Mr Karat's comments are significant as many argue the rise of AAP could marginalise Left politics in the country. For example, AAP's promises of 50 per cent cheaper electricity and 700 litres of free drinking water to every family are very close to the Left's own policies. So, how does the Left view AAP: an ally or a threat? "It's true that in cities like Delhi we have not done well and that's because traditionally, our support has been from working class in industrial areas and that's shrinking," Mr Karat said.
He hinted that AAP and the Left do share a common thread. "I met Kejriwal sometime back when he was opposing the privatisation of the Delhi Jal Board. It's good that he is talking about policies. We are closely watching their policies and if they emerge as serious political alternative."