ജോൺ വാഴത്തറ

Spreading wings: A rally of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kannur on Sunday as part of its Party Congress, which begins on April 6.MOHAN S.K. Biju GovindKozhikode The CPI(M), which is gearing up for the 23rd Party Congress in Kannur from April 6 to 10, has its task cut out: to stem the marginalisation of the Left happening at the national level and to go creative in bringing down the BJP from power at the Centre. The shrinking space at the national level is the party’s — and generally the Left’s — single major challenge. At successive Party Congresses, the CPI(M) has resolved to spread its wings further into the Hindi heartland. That has not happened. And in West Bengal and Tripura, once Left strongholds, the party is struggling to make a comeback. Kerala, on the other side, has been a shining example of the party going in for political pragmatism, not just to stay afloat but also to secure an emphatic second successive win in the Assembly election. But that is not enough if...