CPI, CPI(M) raise red flags at each other over JPC

In the Joint Parliamentary Committee, they will collectively try to stump the government on the 2G pitch. But before its constitution, the CPI(M) and the CPI—communist partners for decades—had a turf battle for a seat in the probe body. And, it finally resulted in CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta elbowing out CPI(M)’s Basudeb Acharia in the JPC.

Till last night, Acharia, a ninth-time MP, was sure he would represent the Left in the JPC from the Lok Sabha. This morning, Dasgupta was instead nominated as the Left nominee for the JPC in a meeting of the four Left parties.

Acharia told Business Standard, “I was initially told by my party to be in the JPC. But then I voluntarily opted out. Elections are coming in West Bengal and I have to look after three districts. It won’t be possible to spend time for the JPC in Delhi during April-May.”

Dasgupta told Business Standard, “On Wednesday, our trade union, the AITUC, played a key role in organising the massive workers rally in the capital. I think our top leaders decided that this is the time to show the unity of the Left.”

Insiders of the communist camps attribute it also on hectic behind-the-scene negotiations between the two after it was learnt that the bloc of Left parties would get only two seats, one each from the two Houses, in the JPC.

When CPI(M) boss Prakash Karat called up CPI general secretary A B Bardhan to “congratulate” him for the success of the massive workers rally in the capital yesterday, the latter said he’d heard there would be two JPC slots available for the Left and there was a need to strengthen unity. Karat agreed on Left unity but said he needed to discuss the JPC issue in the party.

This morning, Dasgupta initially refused to attend the Left parties’ meeting, telling others that as the CPI(M) would bag both seats, he wouldn’t go there to endorse it. Then Sitaram Yechury, leader of the Left parties in Parliament, called Dasgupta and asked him to come, promising him a JPC slot. Dasgupta had a condition, that it not look that he’d fill the vacancy only because Acharia would be busy. He reminded Yechury that he, too, as a veteran leader, had election responsibilities.

Meanwhile, there were consultations between the West Bengal unit of the CPI(M) and its central leaders. and it was agreed to leave the slot for the CPI. So, when Dasgupta finally arrived, he was congratulated by everyone present for his entry in the JPC.