The ref to Plekhanovs work is that Stalin (or really the CC of the communist Party) represented a different trend to Trotskyism with the point being if Stalin dies of a heart attack in 1923 another Marxist-Leninist would've taken his place and not much would've been different. Another member of the CC would've been pushed forward to represent the CC (as Stalin did) and become the identifiable face of CPSU

The Trotskyite trend was a miniscule faction of the CPSU and the CPSU had already labelled Trotskyism as an opportunist trend in the party at the 15th Congress (1926).

So at this historical juncture the masses pushed forward a Marxist-Leninist *not a trotskyist * so the question in itself becomes fantasy with having to magic Trotsky into taking positions he opposed

http://www.marx2mao.com/Stalin/SDD26.html#c4

PDF version of On the Opposition here which includes the debates between 1924-1927 in the party which gives a fuller picture. https://redarmy.online/viewtopic.php?t=153

And Harpal Brar did a massive book on Trotskyism Vs Leninism and the struggles during the CPSU and how the trots tiptoed themselves step by step into counter revolution (trotskys expulsion from the party leading the trots to go underground and attempt to sell Ukraine to Nazis etc. The recent Tukhachevsky transcript was released to which all but confirmed what the MLs said all these years). https://redarmy.online/viewtopic.php?t=147

The historical role of the trotskyites in the end is to disavow real socialism, real socialist progress and successful revolution with idealistic fantasy untainted by existing practice.

The trotskyites idealism and insistence in pursuing an opportunist line which dives into left adventurism (his policy on trade unions for eg.) or right opportunist (demanding the 2nd 5 year plan be stopped) is why they've been reviled in the communist movement for over a century now.

Stalin once made the point Trotskyism started as an opportunist (but genuine) trend in the working class movement. By the 1930s it was nothing other than a vehicle for foreign intelligence agencies and it has remained so ever since.

Anyway just saying Hello to all you fuckers, I hope you're all well and wishing you a Stalinist Xmas xxx