CPI(M)’s infighting re-surfaces after Singur verdict

The infighting within CPI(M) has once again surfaced and going against the party’s state secretary and politburo member Surya Kanta Misra, leaders and workers in Singur admitted that acquisition of the farm land was a mistake.

After the Supreme Court passed a judgment on Wednesday declaring the acquisition of land in Singur illegal, Misra said that land had been acquired following proper law. Balai Sabui, CPI(M) leader in Singur said the acquisition of farm land to set up a motor car factory was not only illegal but the party did not even consult leaders of Krishak Sabha of Hooghly district. Even the district committee members were not informed about the acquisition.

“The acquisition was done in sheer haste and no attempt  was made to earn the confidence and faith of local people,” he said.

It may be mentioned that after the trouble broke out in Singur, Jyoti Basu inquired whether the party leaders in Hooghly had been informed about the acquisition as they remained silent on the matter.

However, neither the then Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, nor the then Industry minister Nirupam Sen made any attempts to convince Basu on the issue.

The reaction of local leaders of CPI(M) in Singur clearly indicates that party plenum scheduled to be  held between September 30 and October 2 is likely to be a stormy one. Though the organisational matter is the key issue to be discussed in the plenum, Singur issue is bound to come up as 

it is intimately connected with party’s organisation, a party leader said.

It may be recalled that the then land and land reforms minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah had criticised the state government’s policy openly and said that to save the party from extinction, Bhattacharya and Sen should be expelled.

The party did not support Mollah’s statement and he was finally thrown out of the party. Local CPI(M) leaders said that after the Supreme Court’s judgment there would be more exodus. 

“Many comrades have not renewed their party memberships and the party has decided that those who have not paid levy for three months would be expelled, there will be large scale exodus and there will be no one to open the local and zonal committee offices.”

Party insiders said Buddhadeb Bhattacharya did not say a single word on the Supreme Court judgment as he knows that he will be pulled up for being the architect of the land acquisition.