INDIA'S LEFT FRONT (C-NE7-01274)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 003462 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN SUBJECT: INDIA'S LEFT FRONT (C-NE7-01274) REF: STATE 103124 Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Summary: In response to reftel's request for reporting on the Left Front in India, Post has compiled below a list of reporting out of Chennai, Kolkata, and New Delhi on the Left from the past year. There is a negligible Left presence in the Mumbai Consulate district. The cables below respond to some key questions raised in SecState 103124. Post will continue to meet with Left Front leaders and provide further analysis in response to reftel. End Summary. New Delhi Reporting -------------- ¶2. (C) Since May 2006, Embassy New Delhi wrote numerous cables, often in conjunction with Consulate Kolkata and Chennai, highlighting the Left front. These cables covered a range of topics, including Left influence on the ruling UPA government, economic reform, and foreign policy. --Politics and Pipeline Set the Stage for 123 End Game in Washington New Delhi 3229 July 2007 --Left Torpedoes Foreign University Bill New Delhi 3341 July 2007 --A Third Front Gets off to a Shaky Start New Delhi 2678 June 2007 --India on the Threshold of Electing its First Woman President New Delhi 2805 June 2007 --Parliament Adjourns Amidst Chaos: US Lawmakers' Letter Stokes the Ire of Parliamentarians New Delhi 2230 May 2007 --New Delhi Weekly Econ Office Highlights New Delhi 2280 May 2007 --The UPA at Three Years - Mired in Mediocrity New Delhi 2475 May 2007 --Delhi Diary, May 24-30 New Delhi 2563 May 2007 --GOI Advancing Reforms Outside Parliament New Delhi 2065 April 2007 --Samajwadi Party Pulls Support from UPA Government, but Election Commission Sets Uttar Pradesh Poll Dates New Delhi 871 February 2007 --Ahluwalia Reviews Reforms with Staffdel Fite New Delhi 848 February 2007 --Party Spokesmen Agree that Equitable Development Is a Top Priority New Delhi 94 January 2007 --Ahluwahlia and Lavin Discuss Potential for Private Led Growth in India New Delhi 8200 Dec 2006 --India's Communist Parties Debate How to Use Their Increased Power Even as they Face Losing It New Delhi 8003 November 2006 --CPI-M Defends Left's Position on Economic Reforms New Delhi 7996 November 2006 --Anti-American Groups use Saddam Verdict to Squeeze UPA Hard New Delhi 7618 November 2006 --Cabinet Shuffle Generates Little Excitement in Political Circles New Delhi 7442 October 2006 --Congress at the Half Way Mark - More Confident Than Ever New Delhi 7153 October 2006 --Indian Muslim Resentment Smoldering Over Lebanon and Gaza New Delhi 5470 August 2006 --PM Singh Draws Nuclear Redlines New Delhi 5802 August 2006 --Privitaization Policy Leads to Prime Ministerial Resignation "Crisis" New Delhi 4819 July 2006 --Left Parties Issue Unfavorable Report Card to UPA Partners New Delhi 4253 June 2006 --The Communists are on a Roll and Loaded for Bear NEW DELHI 00003462 002 OF 002 New Delhi 4062 June 2006 --Rumors of A Third Front Yet Again Make the Rounds in Delhi New Delhi 4202 June 2006 Chennai Reporting -------------- 3.(C) Since May 2006, Chennai has drafted six focused reports on the Left providing insight into business and economic perspectives, local political dynamics, Muslim-Left relations and more. --Claims of CIA conspiracies abound in Kerala Communist Infighting Chennai 281 April 2007 --After Closing Coke, Kerala Activists Target Pepsi Chennai 314 April 2007 --India,s Security Concerns over Chinese Bidder Forces Kerala to Re-bid Port Project Chennai 187 March 2007 --Divided and Ambivalent: Kerala,s New Leftist Government off to a Slow Start Chennai 1418 July 2006 --Kerala Chief Minister Achuthanandan: Vintage Communist Takes Charge Chennai 1195 June 2006 --Behind Kerala,s Leftist Sweep: Shift in Muslim Votes and Distaste for Congress Squabbling Chennai 960 May 2006 Kolkata Reporting -------------- ¶4. (C) Since November 2006, Kolkata did a series of reporting on the Left Front which has notable strength in the Eastern portion of the country. These cables covered local Left politics, economic issues, foreign policy perspectives, and land reform. --Renewed Violence in Nandigram Indicates a Political Battle for Rural Voters Kolkata 145 May 2007 --USTR Ambassador Schwab Meets West Bengal Chief Minister and Local Farmers Kolkata 129 April 2007 --What Does Nandigram Mean for the CPM? Kolkata 104 March 2007 --Recent Deaths in Nandigram Highlight West Bengal's Violence Local Politics Kolkata 95 March 2007 --West Bengal Faces Fallout From Nandigram Violence Kolkata 92 March 2007 --Left Parties to Push Their Agenda and Challenge UPA During Budget Session Kolkata 68 February 2007 --West Bengal's Land Battle Highlights Challenges of Transition from Agriculture to Industry Kolkata 41 February 2007 --DCM Talks Agriculture in West Bengal Kolkata 31 January 2007 --West Bengal: Mamata Starts Eating Again, but Pot Still Simmering on Agricultural Land for Industry Calcutta 578 December 2006 --Ambassador Mulford's Meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Bhattacharjee Calcutta 539 December 2006 --India's Communists Lobby for China Calcutta 495 November 2006 ¶5. (U) Further reporting on key questions in reftel will follow. WHITE