While this is indeed true, it ignores a larger narrative: reaffirming the systemic decline of the Left parties in India. Its current leadership will be loath to admit it, but this is a ‘Mayday’ moment for a political formation which had harboured national ambitions. In India, the Left either lived in denial or simply preferred status quo; either way, it just ignored these changes. Though their political opponents will not shed tears, the decline of the Left is a cause for worry. Worrisome given that the country is at a moment tussling with key trade-offs: economy versus environment, labour versus capital, bricks versus the clicks economy and so on.

Source: Mint March 11, 2018 19:30 UTC