Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party likely to merge

If all goes well, Left Front constituents Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and All India Forward Bloc will soon become one party.
RSP has proposed a merger with Forward Bloc and the Bloc leadership has promised to seriously consider the proposal, but only after the completion of the 2011 assembly elections in Left-dominated states of West Bengal and Kerala.

Confirming the development, Forward Bloc’s West Bengal secretary Ashok Ghosh said both parties were considering the
merger.

“However, a lot of things, such as the name of the new party and synergy of ideologies and policies, need to be discussed. It [the merger] is not possible now and whatever the decision in this regard will be taken only after the state assembly elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, RSP sources said the proposal had been mooted keeping in mind ideological similarities between the parties. “Both RSP and Forward Bloc follow the socialist-left ideology, but they are not as staunch and blind followers of the Marxist ideology as CPI and CPI(M) are. Hence, the merger is feasible,” a senior RSP leader said.

He, however, said the merger won’t be easy. “The first problem that might arise is distribution of leadership roles. The second problem would be the reaction of party workers. So, the merge, if at all it happens, will take time,” the leader said.

Political analysts feel the merged entity might become a headache for Left Front leader CPI(M). “The strength of divided allies has always been miniscule compared to that of CPI(M). This has helped it call the shots for four decades now. But the merger might change the scenario” a senior analyst in Kolkata said.