Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury Friday said the defeat of the Left Front in West Bengal was because the “people opted for a change”.

“The people have opted for a change and the main beneficiary of the change has been the Trinamool Congress,” Yechury told reporters outside the CPI-M headquarters here referring to the landslide victory in the state by the Trinamool-Congress combine led by Mamata Banerjee.

But he stressed that the uninterrupted 34-year rule of the Left Front is a “record” not seen anywhere in a democratic system.

“As far as West Bengal is concerned, 34 years of rule by the CPI-M is a record. And a similar record is not present anywhere else in this democratic system,” said Yechury, adding that the party’s politburo will meet July 16 to analyse the results.

“We will analyse the election result in detail and will see the factors for this defeat,” he said.

“But for these 34 years, the Left Front rule has ensured big gains for the people of Bengal. And these gains will be defended. Unlike the post-Lok Sabha election period when there was large scale violence against the Left Front supporters and cadres, we are appealing to the people of Bengal to remain calm and peaceful and accept the democratic verdict which should be the way in a democracy,” he said.

On Kerala, Yechury said “unlike the past, victory of UDF (Congress-led United Democratic Front) is by a very slender margin.

“In Tamil Nadu, the results show that people have voted against corruption of the DMK- led government, he said.”

Asked about implications of the assembly elections on national politics and specially on the future of Left parties in India, Yechury said: “Left parties get their power from mass movements and not just by being in the power. They are not affected whether it is in the government or not.

“We will remain relevant,” he added, saying that a new roadmap will be decided in the July 16 meeting.