Modi government neither fascist nor neo-fascist: Why CPI(M)'s clarification note has rattled Congress and CPI

A representative image of CPI(M) flag.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist's) explanatory note to its state units, describing the Narendra Modi government as neither fascist nor neo-fascist has drawn severe criticism from the Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

The CPM clarification note is part of the party's draft note on political resolutions sent to its state units ahead of the 24th Party Congress meeting in April. The stance seems to be a departure from the party's previous stand on the BJP and RSS "carrying out fascist agendas".

The draft resolution became a political controversy this week after the CPI(M) released an explanatory note to its state units, clarifying its stand that while the Modi government “displays neofascistic characteristics,” it is currently neither fascistic nor neofascistic.

The Congress, which will try to unseat the CPM in Kerala in 2026, has seized upon the opportunity. It sharply criticised the CPM's stance, saying, "The CPM means business, literally!"

"The party, which is called the Communist Janata Party (CJP) in Kerala due to its covert dealings with BJP, is playing with fire by whitewashing the BJP fascist regime with their outrageous theory that BJP is not fascist," wrote the Kerala Congress on X.

"Those who trusted the CPM for upholding secular values, mistaking them as 'left', will be disappointed at the new theory that they've floated from the highest level as their party line. This, along with other rightward communal shifts in the last assembly, Lok Sabha, and by-elections, signal the end of CPM and has almost closed their place among the larger opposition in the country," it added.

A junior partner of the CPM, the CPI has been vocal in labelling the Modi government "fascist" and demanded a correction from its Left ally.

"The RSS is a fascist organisation. The Modi-led BJP government under the RSS is indeed a fascist government. The CPM will have to revise its position," CPI's Kerala state secretary Binoy Viswam was quoted by The New Indian Express as saying.

While the CPM seems to be balancing its approach with electoral pragmatism in mind, its ally, the CPI, is understandably critical, as its own poll prospects remain tied to the bigger Leftist partner. The Congress any way is to gain by attacking its Kerala rival CPM. More than anything else, it is the CPM which has rattled the Opposition parties with its "Modi government not fascist or neo-fascist" explainer.