Alliances formed by left-wing parties in the states of India
Left Front / Left Democratic Front | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | LF / LDF |
| Alliance | |
| Seats in Lok Sabha | 6 / 543 (CPIM−3, CPI−2, KC(M)−1) / 545<div style="background-color: | style="background-color:Template:Left Front/meta/color;" width=10px |; width: Expression error: Unexpected < operator.%; height: 100%;"> |
| Seats in Rajya Sabha | 8 / 245 (CPIM-5, CPI-2, KC(M)-1) |
| Seats in | State Legislatures
1 / 126 (Assam)
16 / 243 (Bihar)
99 / 140 (Kerala)
1 / 288 (Maharashtra)
1 / 147 (Odisha)
3 / 200 (Rajasthan)
4 / 234 (Tamil Nadu)
15 / 60 (Tripura) |
The Left Front, also known as Left Democratic Front is an alliance of left-wing political parties in the Indian states. But the presence of this alliance is mainly in Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal. In Lok Sabha elections, only CPI(M) and CPI participate election together nationally while other Left parties ally with CPIM and CPI regionally. But in 23rd Party Congress of Communist Party of India (Marxist) at Kannur in the state of Kerala, the final draft of the party's political resolution was prepared and it gave thrust on increasing the independent strength of CPI(M) and on empowering the Left parties as an third alternative without being part of Congress alliance nationally.[2] CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and the delegates of the party congress gave final seal for the formation of Left Democratic Front in national level to unseat BJP from the central government.[3][4] On 11 January 2023, Sitaram Yechury announced their intension to form Left Democratic Front in a press meeting in Tripura.[5]
Presence in states and politics[edit]
As of 2022[update] the Left Democratic Front led by CPI(M) heads the state government in Kerala. Pinarayi Vijayan is Chief Minister of Kerala. In Tamil Nadu the alliance has 4 MLAs and in the Government with SPA coalition led by M. K. Stalin. The Left Front under CPI(M) governed West Bengal for an uninterrupted 34 years (1977–2011) and Tripura for 30 years including uninterrupted 25 years (1993–2018). The 34 years of Left Front rule in West Bengal is the longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government in the world.[6] The Left Front's highest tally was in 2004 when it got about 8% of votes polled in and it had 59 MPs.[7] It played the role of kingmaker for the Third Front governments during 1996-98 by joining a 13-party coalition and for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in 2004.
Presence in Legislatures, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and local bodies by states or union territories[edit]
Kerala[edit]
Kerala is considered as the Communist Fort of India. Kerala has a strong presence of CPIM and left parties in its politics and society. The Left Democratic Front has 11 member parties including CPI(M), CPI, KC(M), JD(S), NCP, RJD, KC(B), INL, C(S), JKC and KC(ST).[8] Currently LDF has 99 MLAs, 2 Lok Sabha MPs[9] and 7 Rajya Sabha MPs in the state.
Tripura[edit]
The Left Front (composed of CPIM, CPI, RSP and AIFB) is the main opposition in Tripura Legislative Assembly.[10]
West Bengal[edit]
The Left Front (Bengali: বামফ্রন্ট; baamfront) was formed in January 1977, the founding parties being the Communist Party of India (Marxist), All India Forward Bloc, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, the Marxist Forward Bloc, the Revolutionary Communist Party of India and the Biplabi Bangla Congress. Other parties joined in later years, most notably the Communist Party of India. The Left Front government ruled West Bengal for 34 years from 1977 to 2011.The Left Front allied with Indian National Congress in 2016, 2021 and with Indian Secular Front in 2021.[11] After 2018 Panchayat polls, BJP became the main opposition in the state, pushing the Left Front in the third position.[12] In 2019 Lok Sabha election, the front was unable to secure a seat. In 2021, the Left Front suffered a huge setback as the alliance drew blank seats for the first time in Legislative Assembly election.[13] But the Left emerged as the main opposition in the municipal polls across the state in 2021–22.[14]
Bihar[edit]
The communist parties in Bihar had historically held a large presence in the state that was reduced following the Mandal Commission in 1979. The Left parties had 25-35 MLAs in the Bihar assembly, with the CPI winning 20-25 seats in every election, even until 1995.[15] But Left Front won a few seats in the next elections in the state. On 24 July 2015, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, the All India Forward Bloc, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party decided to run in all constituencies on a join ticket citing its call for an alternative platform in 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.[16] The CPI contested 98 seats, while the CPI-ML, CPI(M), SUCI, Forward Bloc, and RSP contested 98, 43, 10, 9, and 3 seats, respectively.[17] CPI released its first list of 81 candidates on 16 September 2015.[18] The Left parties together got 3.57% of the votes polled in the election.[19] Before 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, the Mahagathbandhan alliance were joined in by the left–wing parties in Bihar; namely the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).[20][21] The new arrangement was described as an experiment beyond the caste based politics in Bihar with a caste plus class strategy.[22] The Left parties contested 29 seats (CPIML Liberation - 19 seats, CPI - 6 seats and CPIM - 4 seats). CPI(ML) Liberation won 12 seats while CPI and CPIM won 2 seats each. It is also spectaculated that if more seats were given to the left parties, the election could be won with majority.[23] The Left parties supported JD(U), RJD and INC to form coalition government in Bihar in August, 2022 without taking part in the government.[24] The Left Front has also good presence in the panchayats.
Tamil Nadu[edit]
In 2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, CPI and CPIM fought in alliance with DMK and won 6 and 9 seats respectively. The Left parties contested the next election in coalition with AIADMK (CPI - 10 seats, CPIM - 12 seats and AIFB - 1 seat) and won 20 seats (CPI - 9 seats, CPIM - 10 seats and AIFB - 1 seat). In 2016, CPI and CPIM joined Makkal Nala Kootani (People's Welfare Alliance) [25] and contested 25 seats each, but drew blank seats. In 2019, 4 MPs were elected (CPI - 2, CPIM - 2) from Left Front in coalition with DMK. In 2021 election, CPI and CPIM won 2 seats each. In 2022 Municipal Corporation elections, CPIM won 24 Municipal Corporations, 41 Municipality and 101 Town Panchayats while CPI won 13 Municipal Corporations, 19 Municipality and 26 Town Panchayats.[26] T. Nagarajan of CPI(M) got the post of Deputy Mayor in Madurai Municipal Corporation.[27]
Rajasthan[edit]
In 2008 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, CPIM secured 3 seats from Anupgarh, Dhod and Danta Ramgarh. CPIM along with six other parties including CPI, CPI(ML)L, MCPI(U), SP, RLD and JD(S) formed Rajasthan Loktantrik Morcha in 2013.[28] Amra Ram of CPIM became the chief ministerial candidate.[29] But the alliance could not win any seat in 2013 Legislative Assembly election. In 2018, 2 MLAs of CPIM and 1 MLA of RLD were elected.
Himachal Pradesh[edit]
The presence of left parties in Himachal Pradesh is mainly based on the activities of their students wings.[30] CPIM had representatives in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1967 and 1993. In 1993, Rakesh Singha won from Shimla seat.[31] Though CPIM managed to win many seats in the municipal and panchayat elections.
In 2012 Shimla Municipal Corporation election, CPI(M) won the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in Shimla Municipal Corporation with a huge majority with a total of 3 seats.[32] Sanjay Chauhan and Tikender Singh Panwar became Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively.[33]
In 2016 CPIM won 42 seats out of 331 seats contested and received solely 2 district panchayats.[34] In 2017 Shimla Municipal Corporation election, CPI(M) managed to win only one seat despite being a kingmaker in previous election.
The Left front contested 17 seats in 2017 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election (CPIM - 14 seats, CPI - 3 seats). Rakesh Singha of CPIM emerged victorious from Theog. After the election the presence of Left in state started to increase.[35]
In 2021 panchayat elections, CPIM increased its tally by jumping to 337 seats. 12 zila parishad(ZP) members, 25 panchayat samiti members, 28 panchayat pradhans, 30 vice-pradhans and 242 ward members got elected from CPIM. Also CPIM candidates got elected for president in 25 panchayats and vice-president in 30 panchayats.[36][37]
In 2022, the Left Front fielded 12 candidates : 11 from CPI(M) and 1 from CPI.[38][39] But the front drew blank seat securing only 28,444 votes (0.67%).[40]
Maharashtra[edit]
The presence of Left parties in Maharashtra is for the strong presence of their farmer wings in the state.[41] In 2009 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election, Peasants and Workers Party of India won 4 seats (1.11% votes) and CPIM won 1 seat (0.60% votes). In 2019, Vinod Nikole of CPIM won from Dahanu constituency. In 2022 Panchayat election, CPI(M) won 93 Sarpanch (Village President) posts in direct elections, with the entire village voting, in the districts of Nashik (59) Thane-Palghar (26), Ahmednagar (6), Nandurbar (1) and Pune (1). Along with that, ward wise elections of Gram Panchayat Members were also held. The CPI(M) won hundreds of these seats, and has a majority in over 100 Gram Panchayats in the above districts.[42][43]
Andhra Pradesh[edit]
In 1994 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election 34 MLAs (CPI - 19, CPIM - 15), in 2004 15 MLAs (CPI - 6, CPIM - 9) of Left Front were elected. In 2014, CPI and CPIM won 1 seat each, which subsequently went to Telangana state. In 2019, the Left parties contested election in alliance with Jana Sena Party.[44] But they did not won a single seat. In 1984, each CPIM and CPI won 1 seat. The Left Front came victorious for many times in local body elections.[45]
CPIM had MPs in Andhra Pradesh rajyasabha multiple times including M. Hanumantha Rao from 1988 to 1994, Y. Radhakrishnamurthy from 1996 to 2002 and Penumalli Madhu from 2004 to 2010.
Telangana[edit]
In 2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election, CPIM and CPI did not win any seats. In 2022 Munugode by-election, Left parties supported the candidate fielded by Bharat Rashtra Samithi.[46] In 2023, CPIM and CPI will contest the election in alliance with BRS.[47][48] On 10 December 2022, CPIM leader Tammineni Veerabhadram said that his party will contest 9 seats in the 2023 election.[49]
Leading the Third Front[edit]
The CPI(M) led the formation of the Third Front for the 2009 election.[50] This front was basically a collection of regional political parties who were neither in UPA nor in the NDA. Parties like CPIM, CPI, AIFB, RSP, BSP, AIADMK, MDMK, BJD, JD(S), HJC, TDP were the members of this front. The newly formed alliance carried with them 109 seats before the 2009 election. After the election, the alliance won only 79 seats.
Fourteen political parties including the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Revolutionary Socialist Party, All India Forward Bloc,[51] All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Janata Dal (United), Samajwadi Party, Biju Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, Janata Dal (Secular), Naga People's Front, Sikkim Democratic Front, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh participated in a convention of the parties not in alliance with the NDA nor UPA, which was held on 30 October 2013.[52] On 5 February 11 parties announced that they would work as one bloc on a "common agenda" in parliament. These included the CPI(M), CPI, RSP, AIFB, SP, JD(U), AIADMK, AGP, JVM, JD(S) and BJD.[53] The alliance won 77 seats (CPIM - 9 seats, CPI - 1 seat, RSP - 1 seat, SP - 5 seats, JD(U) - 2 seats, AIADMK - 37 seats, JD(S) - 2 seats, BJD - 20 seats) in 2014 Indian general election.
Lok Sabha election tally[edit]
| Lok Sabha | Lok Sabha constituencies |
Won | Net Change in seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 489 | 22 | - |
| Second | 494 | 33 |  11
|
| Third | 494 | 33 |  00
|
| Fourth | 520 | 46 | 13
|
| Fifth | 518 | 53 | 07
|
| Sixth | 542 | 40 |  13
|
| Seventh | 529 (542*) | 54 | 14
|
| Eighth | 541 | 36 | 18
|
| Ninth | 529 | 54 | 18
|
| Tenth | 534 | 57 | 03
|
| Eleventh | 543 | 52 | 05
|
| Twelfth | 543 | 49 | 03
|
| Thirteenth | 543 | 40 | 09
|
| Fourteenth | 543 | 61 | 21
|
| Fifteenth | 543 | 24 | 37
|
| Sixteenth | 543 | 12 | 12
|
| Seventeenth | 543 | 6 | 6
|
* : 12 seats in Assam and 1 in Meghalaya did not vote.[54]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Members: Lok Sabha". loksabha.nic.in. Lok Sabha Secretariat. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- ↑ "CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury calls out Congress on secularism: 'Decide your stand'". Retrieved 2023-01-13.
The final draft of the party's political resolution gives thrust on empowering the Left parties as the third alternative.
- ↑ "কংগ্রেস ছাড়াই বিরোধী জোট, তৃণমূলের পাশে দাঁড়িয়ে দাবি কেরল সিপিএমের". 2022-04-09. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ↑ "Yechury calls for alliance of Left, secular, democratic parties to unseat BJP". Retrieved 2023-01-16.
- ↑ "Press Meet". Official Facebook Page of CPI(M) Tripura State. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
- ↑ "Communists Lead Kolkata's Capitalist Makeover". Los Angeles Times. May 12, 2006.
- ↑ "With Only 5 Lok Sabha Seats, Left Front Hits Historic Low". NDTV Elections. May 24, 2019.
- ↑ "Alliance Wise and Party Wise Kerala Election Results 2021 LIVE". First Post.
- ↑ https://www.findeasy.in/lok-sabha-seats-in-kerala/
- ↑ "Tripura : Left Front Announces Candidate List For Bye-Election In 4 Constituencies". 30 May 2022.
- ↑ "Bengal: Left-Cong-ISF alliance names nominees for first two poll phases". 5 March 2021.
- ↑ "West Bengal panchayat polls reflect shifting political landscape of state; pulverised Left makes way for BJP as main Opposition". 19 May 2018.
- ↑ "As Panchayat Polls In West Bengal Draw Near, BJP Worried About A Rising CPM". 19 December 2022.
The Bengal CPI(M) received a drubbing in the polls and for the first time in independent India the Bengal Assembly did not have any representation from the communists.
- ↑ "Kolkata Municipal Polls: Trinamool Wins Big, But Left Emerges as Principal Opposition". 21 December 2021.
- ↑ "Grassroot presence and a 'natural' alliance — why the embattled Left did well in Bihar". 14 November 2020.
- ↑ "Left parties to contest all 243 Bihar Assembly seats". India Today.
- ↑ "Bihar 2015". Election Commission of India.
- ↑ "OBCs, EBCs, Dalits dominate CPI list of 81 candidates". The Times of India.
- ↑ "Bihar 2015". Election Commission of India.
- ↑ Verma, Nalin (29 August 2020). "Will an RJD-Congress-Left Alliance Ride the Anti-Incumbency Wave in Bihar?". The Wire. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- ↑ Nair, Sobhana K. (2020-09-26). "Bihar Assembly elections | Mahagatbandhan narrows down its seat sharing formula". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- ↑ Tiwari, Amitabh (2020-10-07). "Bihar Polls 2020: Will Tejashwi's 'Caste-Class' Strategy Succeed?". The Quint. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- ↑ "Grassroot presence and a 'natural' alliance — why the embattled Left did well in Bihar". 14 November 2020.
- ↑ "JD(U)-RJD Form Govt In Bihar As Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav Join Hands: Who Gets What". 10 August 2022.
- ↑ "TN Assembly Election: What AIADMK and DMK Alliances and Seat Share Deals Reflect". News Click.
In 2016, besides the AIADMK and the DMK fronts, the Makkal Nala Kootani (People’s Welfare Alliance) with the DMDK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), TMC and VCK formed a third front.
- ↑ "நகர்ப்புற உள்ளாட்சி தேர்தல் முடிவுகள் - 2022". Archived from the original on 23 Feb 2022. Retrieved 24 Feb 2022.
- ↑ "Indrani Ponvasanth is Mayor, T. Nagarajan is Madurai Deputy Mayor". The Hindu.
- ↑ "Left parties, SP, JD(S) form forum for campaigning". The Economic Times. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ↑ "Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018: A seven-party third front takes shape". The Hindu. PTI. 28 November 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ↑ "Himachal Pradesh Election Results: CPI(M) Makes A Comeback In Himachal Pradesh, Wins Theog". NDTV Elections. 18 December 2017.
The party's presence has been strong in and around Shimla, backed by its student's wing, which dominates the Himachal Pradesh University.
- ↑ "CPM scores first win in Himachal Pradesh in 24 years". Livemint.com. 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
- ↑ "Shimla municipal poll: CPI(M) scripts history". The Hindu. 28 May 2012.
- ↑ Shimla MC polls: CPM wins mayor, deputy's post
- ↑ "42 seats in 2016 and 337 seats in 2021: CPI (M) wins in Himachal Pradesh – News8Plus-Realtime Updates on Breaking News & Headlines". February 2021.
- ↑ https://www.thehindu.com/elections/himachal-pradesh-2017/cpim-offers-pro-people-alternative
- ↑ "HP: Local Body Elections 2021, CPI(M) Wins More Seats than Last Time | Peoples Democracy".
- ↑ "42 seats in 2016 and 337 seats in 2021: CPI (M) wins in Himachal Pradesh – News8Plus-Realtime Updates on Breaking News & Headlines". February 2021.
- ↑ "CPI and CPI(M) will fight Himachal Pradesh assembly elections together". Dainik Jagran (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ "List of Contesting Candidates". ceohimachal nic.in.
- ↑ https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultAcGenDec2022/partywiseresult-S08.htm?st=S08
- ↑ "Maharashtra farmers' rally: How CPI(M)'s Kisan Sabha won the day". March 2018.
- ↑ "Maha: CPI(M)'s Impressive Victories in Gram Panchayat Elections". 30 October 2022.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/cpimcc/
- ↑ "Jana Sena and Left parties agree for electoral alliance in Andhra Pradesh". The New Indian Express. 26 January 2019.
- ↑ Gilai, Harish (October 2021). "CPI(M) takes novel route to highlight condition of roads". The Hindu.
- ↑ "CPM pledges support to Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Munugode bypoll". The Times of India. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
- ↑ "Left, TRS will contest next polls together: Telangana CPM secretary Tammineni". The New Indian Express. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ↑ "TRS To Continue Alliance With Left Parties: Jagadish Reddy". IND Today. 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
- ↑ "CPI to contest from 9 assembly seats in TS: Tammineni". The Hans India. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
- ↑ "CPI-M upbeat for Third Front after BJP-BJD split". Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ↑ "Left plans secular meet for 'Third Front' options". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Left, regional parties align against Cong, BJP for convention against communalism". The Indian Express. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- ↑ "11 parties of prospective Third Front unite". Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Seventh Lok Sabha elections (1980)". Indian Express. Indian Express. March 14, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
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