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This article explores how the leftist movement in Kerala interacts with its unique social landscape characterized by strong pressure groups. It delves into the coexistence of radical leftist politics and traditional community forces, tracing their roots back to the early twentieth-century social reform movement. Scholars are divided between attributing Kerala’s political dynamics to class or caste influences. Through analysis of Communist Party engagement with communities, the article argues for a balanced approach that integrates diversity while accommodating social realities.
In Kerala, communism holds a strong presence in both social and political spheres, with the Communist Party often gaining power through popular support and historic mobilizations. The persistence of left-wing influence in Kerala is attributed to its engagement with the state’s complex social landscape, marked by divisions based on religion, caste, and region. This engagement involves navigating between radical left politics and reactionary community forces, with the party strategically adapting its class ideology to form alliances for electoral success. Through interviews with party leaders and experts, this research analyzes the Communist Party’s evolution and its approach to engaging with diversity in Kerala’s society and politics.
This study examines the interaction between the Communist Party and Kerala’s diverse social structure. It aims to connect Kerala’s leftist political experiments with broader literature on democracy and social diversity, distinguishing between integration and accommodation approaches. Integration emphasizes single citizenship and equality before the law, while accommodation recognizes and respects all social identities publicly and privately. Despite the Communist Party’s ideological commitment to integration, electoral pressures have led to some accommodation strategies. Kerala’s unique blend of Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, along with its complex caste system, deeply influences its politics. The Communist Party’s electoral success in Kerala has attracted scholarly attention, with debates over the role of class versus caste/community dynamics in its rise. Contradictory perspectives exist, with some emphasizing the party’s grassroots movements and others highlighting caste-based calculations. The intertwining of class and caste in Kerala politics complicates analysis, prompting discussions on political accommodation versus communalism. This study aims to untangle these complexities and contradictions.
The evolution of left politics in Kerala saw the Communist Party grow from a small radical faction to leading left coalition governments post-independence. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) formed around 1980, uniting left and democratic parties under CPM and CPI leadership, ending a decade-old rivalry. Meanwhile, Congress formed the United Democratic Front (UDF) as a counter. The LDF governed for 20 years between 1980 and 2021, with the two communist parties at its core. Other parties, including socialist groups, switched alliances opportunistically. Despite ideological differences in 1964, the communist parties contributed to left rationality, leading to the formation of the LDF in 1980. The Kerala branch of the Communist Party adopted a unique approach in the colonial period, operating within the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) to avoid British repression. The CSP’s legal status within the INC provided protection, facilitating the Communist Party’s growth.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) in Kerala strategically organized trade unions, agrarians, and social reformers, gaining a strong base in the 1930s. This included mobilizing subaltern classes against capitalists and landlords and participating in anti-colonial and united Kerala movements. The party embraced social equality and challenged caste barriers, particularly in Hindu caste groups, which dominated its early leadership. The party’s membership predominantly comprised upper caste Hindus, reflecting the impact of early 20th-century reform movements on caste and religion. However, lower caste groups like Ezhavas and Scheduled Castes formed the core base due to their position in the social hierarchy. Despite efforts, the party struggled to gain traction among Muslims and Christians, who were influenced by religious leaders and lacked the radicalism seen in Hindu reform movements. The party’s electoral success reflected its support base among lower castes and Hindus, while minorities predominantly favored other political alliances. Over time, the party made limited inroads into minority communities but remained relatively weak among them compared to its traditional support base.
The early electoral experiences of the Communist Party in united Kerala, post-1956, revealed both its strengths and weaknesses. Despite initial predictions, the party surprised by winning power in 1957, marking a setback for the Congress Party. However, subsequent elections showed the party lacked the voter base to secure a majority, especially as other parties aimed to weaken the left. Internal rifts further complicated matters, leading to splits in the party in the 1960s over ideological and tactical issues. Efforts to unite left-leaning forces and emphasize class struggle were pivotal in navigating these challenges.
The formation of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in 1980 aimed to consolidate left-leaning parties under a common platform. This required reconciling ideological differences and reaching out to non-left democratic forces. Despite ideological tensions, alliances with parties like the Muslim League and Kerala Congress were forged to broaden the left’s support base, even though these parties represented sectarian interests. The relationship with these parties remained complex, driven by both ideological considerations and political pragmatism.
The strategy of forging alliances beyond traditional bases aimed to maximize electoral success and mitigate the influence of ethnicity in politics. However, it also led to ideological compromises, as seen in the moderation of left political appeals. The collaboration between class-driven communist parties and communitarian confessional parties demanded a centrist approach, resulting in policies that balanced class issues with interests of private managements and vested community interests. Despite ideological tensions and compromises, the left’s alliances remained instrumental in navigating Kerala’s complex political landscape.
Left parties are committed to an integrationist approach to diversity but face challenges when social identities become prominent in politics. In Kerala, where caste and religious communities are powerful, the Communist Party mobilized through trade unions and peasant organizations. Despite efforts to reach beyond its Hindu base, the party remains predominantly Hindu-dominated. To counter the Congress Party, the left reluctantly allied with community-centric parties like the Muslim League, forming a broad coalition. Despite its class-oriented ideology, the Communist Party adapted its strategy to accommodate diverse community interests, aiming for a classless society while making practical compromises for social cohesion.
Source:
Shahul Hameed Mattumannil (2024) The left approach to social diversity: How the Communist Party interacted with Kerala’s social landscape?, Cogent Social Sciences, 10:1, DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2023.2292840