Left-stay away from extremes

 History records that so long the Left stayed away from  the extremes of the Red ,it had gathered stature . Every time it reached out to red borders,it had steep slides.  The Left evolved as part of the Congress around 1920 and did well till it veered to too far left and lost heavy ground n 1928.It then moved to the center and prospered in the Congress collective. In 1942 it went fully Marxist ,even as to  dub Congress leaders as lackeys of the west, and as a consequence, lost its standing. Post the 1960s it re-allied with the Congress  to represent the trade mark red tint in Indian politics. For three decades the Left grew in clout as it had learnt to occupy the much sought after left-of- center space in a growing economy.Then came Singur as the CPI (M )  inexplicably ,went back to distant basics and took a sharp left turn on the pro-industry policy of its own CM in Bengal and in the process began to ebb yet again and its decision to withdraw support to UPA-I over the N'deal ,took the Left to a  near political rout .The Left had learnt its lessons repeatedly and yet is unable to resist the fatal charm of the extreme red . The CPI (M ) must realise that its comfort zone  is never  in extremes,but lies closer to the center.
Indian Express Oct 29