Vizhinjam port project: A sign of transformation in the Communist movement in India?

By N.S. Venkataraman*

The Vizhinjam Port project in Kerala, constructed by the Adani Group—a private sector enterprise—in partnership with the Marxist-led Kerala government, is a refreshing and significant development with far-reaching economic and social implications, particularly for Kerala. While the project is set to transform the state into a major economic hub, what is equally significant is the shift in approach and philosophy of the Marxist Communist Party ruling Kerala, especially regarding its stance towards the private sector and investors.

As I understand it, the core principle of communist philosophy is to ensure equitable distribution of economic and social opportunities across all sections of society. Communist ideology does not inherently oppose private investors or corporate groups. Rather, it expects that private sector enterprises should not operate with excessive profit as their sole motive, as such behavior amounts to exploitation. Nowhere does communist philosophy say that profit is inherently bad—after all, government-owned and public sector undertakings also aim to operate viably and profitably, though not unduly so.

Unfortunately, over the years, an impression has taken root in India that communist parties are associated with hostility and even violence towards private sector employers. This perception has been reinforced by the actions of some past communist leaders in India, who appeared to encourage aggressive trade unionism as a legitimate expression of working-class interests.

I speak from personal experience. For several years, I worked at a senior level in a state government-owned public sector chemical industry in Kerala. During a period of agitation, I was gheraoed and spat upon at midnight by members of a trade union affiliated with the CITU. I endured over an hour of abuse, all the while wondering what I had done to deserve such treatment.

Later, while working at a senior level in a private sector company in West Bengal during the tenure of Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, I came to believe that Mr. Basu did not endorse violence as part of the communist movement. He seemed to recognize the importance of cooperation between the private and public sectors for the state’s progress. His successor, Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, appeared to carry forward this vision by actively supporting the Tata Group’s automobile project. Unfortunately, that project was derailed, and the individuals responsible are now in power in West Bengal. Ironically, they now call for greater private sector involvement in economic development—though investors remain wary due to past experiences.

Against this backdrop, the current Chief Minister of Kerala deserves recognition for his pragmatic leadership and conviction in partnering with the private Adani Group to establish the massive Vizhinjam Port project. This development promises substantial economic and social upliftment for various sections of the population. The Chief Minister has, in effect, redefined and modernized the approach of the communist movement in India.

An earlier example of such pragmatism was the LNG terminal project built at Kochi by the private sector Petronet group, with a five-million-tonne annual capacity. While there were protests against laying pipelines for gas distribution in Kerala, the current Chief Minister resolved the issue with proactive engagement. The terminal is now operational, supplying gas to Kerala and Karnataka.

This is in stark contrast to the situation in Tamil Nadu, where agitators prevented the pipeline extension from Kochi into the state. The Tamil Nadu government failed to act decisively, thereby missing out on substantial investment opportunities that could have followed from the availability of natural gas.

Considering the pragmatic leadership of the Kerala Chief Minister, I believe that the massive Sterlite Copper project—closed in Tamil Nadu due to questionable allegations—might have continued operations if it had been located in Kerala under the present administration.

All things considered, the communist movement in India appears to have taken a progressive step forward, remaining true to its core ideals while embracing necessary economic reforms, as exemplified by the public-private Vizhinjam Port project.

Can we say, then, that the Vizhinjam Port project marks a turning point in the evolution of the communist movement in India?

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Trustee, Nandini Voice For The Deprived, Chennai

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