Kolkata, July 8 (IANS) West Bengal’s Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led ruling Left Front needs to communicate regularly with the public to gain the faith of those who are still opposed to it, former chief minister and party patriarch Jyoti Basu said here Tuesday. “The reason behind some people being against us is that we fail to reach out to them and attend to their grievances. We need to communicate with people regularly, understand them and clarify our point of view. This needs to be done repeatedly. If we don’t empathise with our people why will they support us?” Basu said at an event to mark his 95th birthday.

Basu added that party workers should not react violently when people choose to vote against the Left Front.

“Our party activists must learn to behave properly with people. Instead of losing their cool when people vote against us, we need to explain our achievements to them. Then leave it to the people to choose whom they will support - a party without any definite course of action or our party, which works for them.”

The veteran politician said West Bengal had set an example in India, if not the world, by supporting the Left Front for 31 years.

“I hope people continue to support us and the Left Front remains in power for the next 31 years as well. I am confident that the Front will win the next assembly elections,” said Basu.