In Bangladesh, the number of leftist parties eclipse right win democratic ones; in 1991, of the 55 per cent votes, they got 3.23 per cent which fell during the 9th parliamentary elections.
Leaders of such parties feel that there are some internal problems within the leftist organisations.
General-secretary of BSD, Khalequzzaman, told Bangla Tribune: “the leftists are weak but they can emerge as a potent force in the next 5 to 10 years.”
Overcoming the differences, they can become a major political catalyst, feels the communist leader.
Chief coordinator of Gosonghoti Andolon, Junaed Saki, underlined internal conflict and said: “among main impediments are, preventive tactics used by the ruling class, pervasive politics of looting etc.”
The left parties still do not know how to reach out to the masses convincingly, he deplored.
General-secretary of Gonotantrik Biplobi Party, Moshrefa Mishu, told Bangla Tribune that the left parties could not win the confidence of the people as yet.
At present there are 21 leftist parties and most are emasculated.
Talking about the low number of votes cast for leftist parties, Junaed Saki underlined the endemic culture of vote buying and application of muscle power during elections as the causes.
When an AL or a BNP candidate spends millions, the leftist candidate has to run a campaign within limited resources, said Saki.
There are two reasons for low votes for leftist parties, firstly, people think that leftist parties talk fair but are unable to go to power and secondly, leftists cannot spend huge amounts to buy votes, observed Moshrefa Mishu.