CPI(M), the most prolific of the Secular political parties in India has been facing dwindling minority memberships in some provinces particularly West Bengal, the abode of communist movements including the revolutionist ‘Naxalbari’ movement of the late sixties. The dent has been most conspicuous in the Muslim segment of the population and as per CPI(M)’s own data analysis, the CPI(M) membership is down from 14.90 % in 2004 to 14.67% in 2007 in West Bengal, where the Muslims accounts for 26% of state’s 81 million population. Gujrat where the Muslims are supposed to be in dire need of a secular champion, the CPI(M) memberships has gone down from a healthy 9.59% to a low of 6.38% loosing a third of the Muslim members. In Rajasthan, the CPI(M)’s share has gone down from 9.78% in 2004 to 5.13% in 2007 loosing almost half the members. Loss in Tamil Nadu is also conspicuous.
On the other hand, the red party has made handsome gains in Kerala, another stronghold and the province where the party formed its first communist government in India in 1957. The Muslim membership in Kerala has increased from 9.44% to 10.35% during the same period. The party has also made good gains in minority memberships in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and has recorded marginal gains in Tripura, Andhra and Maharastra. At the National level, the Muslims account for 10.2% of CPI(M)’s total memberships of about 982000 members in the all India basket, making up a total of about 100000 minority members.
However, as per CPI(M) Bengal leader Nilotpal Basu, such minor drop in Muslim memberships can not be concluded as Muslims not joining the party ranks. More forthcoming was the statement of Mohammed Salim, Lok Sabha MP and party central committee member. He said, “A drop in percentage in some states can’t be taken as a trend of minorities moving away from the party. Our party do not discriminates against anyone on caste or religion basis. Our members are from all religion."
Nonetheless, the political organization report placed in the 19th Party Congress at Coimbatore said, “We need to come up with more action plans to inspire the Muslims and other minorities to join our party,” a CPI(M) leader acknowledged.
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