CPI(M) leader hands in resignation, calls alliance handiwork of some leaders

Echoing Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s words that the alliance between CPI(M) and Congress is “unethical” CPI(M) leader Basudebnath Chowdhury on Saturday tendered his resignation in protest.

He has sent his resignation to the party’s state secretary Suryakanta Misra.

Chowdhury said that the alliance with Congress was the handiwork of some leaders and the Central Committee of the party had not yet given its clearance. The matter was never discussed in the party and the opinion of the workers and leaders was never sought. The election managers in Alimuddin Street have not taken the matter lightly as unlike in the past resentment among party workers over the alliance and fielding of candidates was coming into public view. On Friday, some party workers had raised slogans in front of Alimuddin Street demanding fielding of party candidate in Bhatpara. The matter had embarrassed party leaders including the former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Bhattacharya went up to the agitators and asked them to go home. Chowdhury said that the alliance would affect the party structure as in the future the party would not be able to raise its voice against Congress. “We have fought against the anti people policy of Congress since our inception and suddenly we cannot be its friends just because some leaders want it to keep their position in different areas, intact,” he said. He maintained that Central Committee’s views had been misrepresented. Though most of the election managers had “termed it as a sporadic incident,” veteran party workers said that in many pockets the rank and file had not accepted the alliance. They have even refused to share dais with Congress and take part in rallies.  The leaders said that it would difficult for the party to field workers to man over 77,000 booths.