The blow is doubly weighted. Losing its national status and having the right to its election symbol limited to the three states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura is bad enough for the Communist Party of India (Marxist). On top of that, the Election Commission's decision comes a few months before the West Bengal and Kerala assembly elections. This is a loss of image for the party that all its 32 members of parliament in the Lok Sabha cannot compensate for. The EC has simply gone by the book. And the CPI(M) has found that being the third largest in parliamentary strength does not prevent a party from losing its national status if it cannot get even six per cent votes in four assemblies. There is another irony in the CPI(M)'s demotion, perhaps even more piercing for its leaders in some ways. The Communist Party of India retains its national status, although the CPI boasts only two Lok Sabha MPs. This is an unkind historical irony, given both the origin of the CPI(M) and the present hierarchy of parties in the Left Front. The only saving grace has been the party's dignified acceptance of the EC's decision, which is in contrast to the petulant reactions of the two Janata Dal groups, one led by Mr Sharad Yadav and the other by Mr H.D. Deve Gowda. The EC has decided to reduce these two groups to regional status too. The sad thing is that the CPI(M) really cannot be compared to either of the Janata Dal groups, although technically they are now of similar status. The history of the CPI(M)'s emergence and growth, its activity, its links with the other left parties, and the fact that for many it still represents the most visible face of the left movement in India make this reduction of status rather incongruous. While it can be said that the left is dead or dying all over the world, the unique conditions of India - its turbulent political equations and its immense economic, regional, ethnic, religious and caste differences - have given the local left movement a life after death. Yet the CPI(M)'s lowered status seems to echo the humbling of left parties in much of the world. For the CPI(M) in West Bengal, the blow is really a bad one. Mr Jyoti Basu, the chief minister, is likely to retire soon, and succession is unlikely to be smooth. Intra-party dissidence not only persists but seems to be gathering strength. The party has become identified with violent oppression. The pitched battles over turf in the districts have brought down ministers and inspection teams from the Centre and evoked loud calls for the imposition of Article 356 from the Trinamool Congress leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee. In these bad days, the CPI(M) will have to work overtime if it wishes to build anything positive out of the loss of its status and prestige.