CPI(M) divided over alliance with Congress

A rift in the state committee of the CPI(M) has cropped up over forming an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming Assembly elections. 

It may be recalled that veteran Congress leader Manas Bhuniya had asked CPI(M) leaders to get in touch with Congress high command at 10 Janpath Road. CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra on the other hand had urged the Congress to come up with their decision at the earliest. 

A CPI(M) state committee member said those who have been propagating the alliance did not understand the ground reality. “The moment the alliance is officially made, the Trinamool Congress will make use of the situation and consolidate their political position in the Assembly elections,” he said. In 1970s, CPI(M) had criticised Siddhartha Shankar Roy and termed him as a murderer. At that time Indira Gandhi was the main target. The party leaders went ahead to call her “a prostitute” and such slogans are still fresh in the memories of many people. In the wall graphities in Kolkata, Indira Gandhi was criticised like anything. In the 80s, Rajiv Gandhi’s policies to by Bofors guns were criticised and party alleged that he had taken kickbacks along with his friends Arun Singh and Arun Nehru. Party editorials in Ganashakti and People’s Democracy were written criticising Rajiv Gandhi. “Never in the past electoral alliances with Congress were discussed so openly. In Panchayat, in Local bodies and in municipalities post poll adjustments had been made.”

The biggest question now is who will be the next Chief Minister of West Bengal if both the Congress and the CPI(M) form an alliance and they win the Assembly elections. Will the leaders of 12 parties under the Left Front support a Congress member if he/she becomes the next Chief Minister?     

However, leaders like Sujjan Chakraborty, Shyamal Chakraborty and Kanti Ganguly said that the electoral alliance will oust the Trinamool Congress from Bengal. When contacted, senior Trinamool Congress leaders refused to comment and said “they are keeping a tab on the situation”.