Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] General Secretary M.A. Baby on Friday, 19 June called on all constituent parties of the opposition INDIA bloc to undertake honest introspection of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results, arguing that greater unity among alliance partners could have produced a markedly different outcome against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Baby made the remarks while speaking to media persons in Agartala.

Where the INDIA Bloc Fell Short

Baby argued that a broader seat-sharing arrangement could have been decisive. 'If common candidates had been fielded by the INDIA Bloc in around 400 of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, the BJP could have been defeated,' he claimed. He added that the alliance's collective effort did succeed in denying the BJP an outright majority, forcing it to depend on allies — the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh and the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar — to sustain the government.

The CPI(M) leader stressed that all constituent parties, regardless of size, must be treated with equal respect and given meaningful participation in decision-making. 'The approach of both big and small constituents of the INDIA Bloc should be realistic and centred on issues affecting the people,' he said.

Attacks on NDA Economic Record

Baby launched a sharp critique of the NDA government's economic governance, alleging that its policies have deepened inequality, weakened democratic institutions and hurt workers, farmers, students and marginalised communities. Citing international studies, he claimed that the concentration of wealth in India has reached levels surpassing those recorded during British colonial rule — though such claims remain contested and were not independently verified at the time of this report.

He specifically criticised the labour codes and proposed electricity sector reforms, alleging these measures serve large corporate interests at the expense of ordinary citizens. 'The business lobby has become so powerful that the government lacks the courage to curb its irregularities,' Baby alleged.

Examination Irregularities and Regulatory Failures

Demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Baby pointed to alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities in major tests — including NEET and other assessments conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) — which he said have pushed lakhs of students and young people into uncertainty. He also raised concern over deaths of children allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrup in various parts of the country and abroad, accusing the government of inadequate regulatory oversight over pharmaceutical companies.

Left's Internal Review and Tripura Outreach

Acknowledging organisational shortcomings within the CPI(M), Baby said the party is undertaking a comprehensive review of its functioning. He noted that veteran West Bengal Communist leader Biman Bose had stepped down from the CPI(M) Politburo, describing the move as part of the party's commitment to generational transition. The party is also making conscious efforts to bring more women and younger leaders into positions of responsibility.

Speaking specifically about Tripura, Baby described the unity between tribal and non-tribal communities as one of the most inspiring experiences he had encountered. He referred to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which covers nearly two-thirds of the state's geographical area, and stressed the need to preserve social harmony. He warned against identity-based politics, caste mobilisation and religion-centred campaigns, arguing such trends weaken democratic values and divert attention from people's real concerns.

Broader Opposition Agenda

Baby reiterated that the INDIA bloc remains a workable platform and called on all partners to strengthen cooperation. He described the broader objective of opposition parties as defending democratic values and defeating what he termed the 'fascistic politics' of the RSS-controlled BJP — a characterisation the BJP has consistently rejected. He also expressed reservations about the Women's Reservation Bill, alleging that the BJP intends to link its implementation to future delimitation exercises for political considerations.

With assembly elections due in several states and the next general election on the horizon, whether the INDIA bloc can translate this call for unity into coordinated ground-level action remains the defining question for the opposition.