CPI(M) struggles to douse Bengal poll fire

The alliance with the Congress in West Bengal is proving to be costly for the CPI(M).

Senior leader of the party and noted women’s rights activist Jagmati Sangwan resigned from the party over the “failure” of the Central Committee (CC) to punish leaders from West Bengal for continuing with the alliance despite directions against it from Delhi.

Sangwan, famous for her fights against khap panchayats and honour killings in Haryana, stormed out of a CC meeting and told reporters that the decision for an understanding with the Congress was against the political tactical line (PTL) adopted by the CPI(M).

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, however, told reporters later on Monday that Sangwan did not wait for the CC’s decision on the questions she raised. He said the party’s electoral ploy in Bengal was not consistent with the PTL.

“The Central Committee concluded that the electoral tactics adopted in West Bengal was not in consonance with its decision not to have an alliance or understanding with the Congress. This should be rectified and the Central Committee stressed the importance of adhering to the political-tactical line adopted at the 21st Congress of the party,” Yechury said.

When asked who was responsible for the violation of the party’s line, Yechury said both the Politburo and the State Secretariat will have to sit together to rectify the decision. “The central committee authorised the Politburo to ensure its implementation in consultation with the State leadership of the party,” he added.

The party leadership also said the elections were held in what were very difficult conditions for the CPI(M) and the Left Front. “The Central Committee saluted the two crore fifteen lakh people who are braving this politics of terror and violence have voted for the slogan of ousting the Trinamool Congress government and isolating the BJP,” a CPI(M) statement said.

Yechury added that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had unleashed widespread violence against the cadre of Opposition parties. “Many CPI(M) cadre have been murdered and over 600 CPI(M) and mass organisation offices have been ransacked and some set on fire. Apart from targeting the offices of all opposition parties and mass organisations, the attacks specifically focus on constituencies and areas where Trinamool Congress lost in these elections. Widespread bomb attacks, arson and extortions of huge amounts of money as ransom are being reported,” the statement said.

It called for a united resistance of the “murder of democracy and civil liberties” in the State. “The strength of the broadest people’s resistance is the answer to meet this unprecedented unleashing of violence,” the statement said.

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