KOZHIKODE: Prakash Karat was re-elected as General Secretary of the CPM when the party is passing through a crucial juncture. It was during his tenure that the party played a pivotal role in the formation of the first UPA Government and subsequently emerged as a kingmaker in national politics some eight years ago.Then, with 61 members, Left forces could claim a major say over the policy decisions of the Government though they were only giving an outside support to it. Till that time, no Left party had such an influence over the Congress-led or any other right-wing -party led Union Governments.But, the decision to withdraw support to the UPA Government ended the bonhomie between the Left and the Congress, ultimately leaving the Left parties in a piquant situation. By the end of the second term of Karat, both the Left Front Governments in West Bengal and Kerala were booted out of power. In Bengal, the party is facing an unprecedented crisis. There has been severe decline in the memberships. Now, he is left with the challenging task of rebuilding the party from its roots. Two years ahead, the country is going to the polls. It is the duty of the central leadership to help evolve left democratic alternative and forge alliances with regional outfits if it does not want to forge a Thrid Front.
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