Kozhikode:
As if a shrinking presence in the country was not bad enough, the CPM is also having to confront party cadres who are not toeing the party line on a host of issues.
The political organisational report that will be discussed in the ongoing 20th congress at Kozhikode lists a range of complaints against party workers that includes alcoholism, immorality and a lust for tickets from school committees to parliament.
The CPM, which has more than 10 lakh members today, is worried about what it calls wrong trends among some of its party workers, including
- sexually harassing women
- immoral activities
- taking bribes
- hankering for Parliament tickets
- alcoholism
Prakash Karat, party general secretary, did not deny there were problems but said the report shows the CPM is conscious and taking action.
"That shows that in imposing our discipline, in correcting or taking action against party members at various levels, these are the type of charges that have come. That does not mean my party has become a party of alcoholics. I don't think that is the implication," he said.
These problems are not new and the CPM has been trying to tackle it for the last 16 years at least. But it has not really worked.
Now party leaders have been asked to set examples.
Central Committee members have been told to take the politburo's permission before acquiring fixed assets like houses and cars.
"If there is somebody who has transgressed some norms, then the type of actions we have taken, I think that has been given. To say that these are the types of transgressions or norm violations which we have found in the last four years regarding which we must be vigilant," said Mr Karat.
The CPM had launched its rectification campaign back in 1996. It re-launched it again in 2008. But there is little debate over the fact that the campaign has failed to curb what the party calls the vices of the bourgeoisie.