Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sharpened his criticism of left-wing politics, characterizing it as a "retrograde ideology" that has significantly lost its relevance in contemporary India. Modi's statement, made on February 8, 2026, comes amidst ongoing debates about the ideological landscape of the nation and the performance of different political streams over the past decades.
Modi's comments were specifically prompted by the maiden speech of C. Sadanandan Master, a BJP MP from Kerala, in the Rajya Sabha. Sadanandan Master, a former schoolteacher, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha under the President's quota. He is known for surviving a violent political attack in the early 1990s, where he allegedly lost both legs following an assault by CPI(M) workers. During his speech, Sadanandan displayed his prosthetic limbs to highlight the brutality he faced at the hands of his political rivals, a gesture that drew sharp reactions in the House. CPI(M) members criticized the act, calling it a "drama," while Sadanandan maintained it was meant to underline the cost of political violence.
The Prime Minister lauded Sadanandan's courage and used the incident to illustrate his point about the diminishing appeal of left-wing ideology. Modi expressed that people found it difficult to accept that in a vibrant democracy, a dedicated teacher could be attacked by followers of a retrograde ideology. He further noted the irony that while this ideology has shrunk considerably, Sadanandan now proudly sits in Parliament.
Modi's critique aligns with a broader narrative about the performance of different ideological streams in India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has similarly argued that regions governed by communist ideology have failed to deliver on development, even when advocating for welfare. Shah stated that the ideological legacy of Maoism and communism has only brought darkness and that the shrinking footprint of communist politics reflects the public's rejection of that worldview. The government has reiterated its commitment to eliminating Maoist presence by March 2026, emphasizing the importance of dismantling the insurgency's ideological appeal.
However, it is important to note that Modi's remarks and the broader discourse around left-wing politics are not without controversy. The CPI(M) has criticized Sadanandan's display as a drama, indicating differing perspectives on the issue of political violence and its portrayal.
Despite these criticisms, Modi emphasized that people in Kerala are tired of the Congress-led UDF and the CPM-led LDF, the two main rivals in the state. He also acknowledged the exceptional welcome he received during a recent visit to Thiruvananthapuram and expressed confidence that Kerala would benefit significantly from the provisions in the recently presented budget.