Dangerous myopia

West Bengal’s new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who led the BJP’s election campaign, publicly thanked the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) for allegedly transferring around 10,000 votes to him in Bhabanipur during the recent state elections. Adhikari claimed the CPI(M) had 13,000 votes in the constituency, with a significant portion shifting to the BJP, a phenomenon observed in multiple elections since 2018. The trend of CPI(M) voters moving en masse to the BJP was first noted in the 2018 panchayat elections and solidified in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly polls. The shift is attributed to disillusionment among the party’s base, particularly among Hindus who feel the BJP aligns with their identity-based political aspirations. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury acknowledged the shift after the 2019 election, attributing it to repression under Trinamool rule, though he denied party members actively voting for the BJP. Field research by journalist Monobina Gupta revealed a puzzling pattern: many voters, despite admiring Marxist icons like Hare Krishna Konar and Jyoti Basu, now support the BJP for its perceived pro-Hindu stance. One interviewee, who praised Left leaders, admitted voting for the BJP solely because it was a ‘Hindubadi’ (pro-Hindu) party, rejecting Muslim appeasement claims. Similar shifts have been documented in Europe’s rise of far-right movements, raising concerns about ideological realignments in Indian politics. Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar warned against such a shift in 2021, citing Tripura’s experience where voters later regretted supporting the BJP. The CPI(M)’s vote share has declined steadily since 2009, from 33% in the Lok Sabha to 23% in 2014, with little sign of recovery. The party’s erosion of support, particularly among its traditional Hindu base, reflects broader political realignments in West Bengal.