CPI(M) smells chance to corner Mamata

While industry bodies are worried about the Tatas’ pullout from Singur in West Bengal, the CPI(M) sees this as an opportunity to improve its government’s pro-industry image. The party, which suffered a series of losses in the recent local elections, will try to corner the state’s main opposition leader, Mamata Banerjee, by showing her as anti-industry. It was Banerjee’s protest that had led to the Tatas’ shelving their Singur project.

CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury today tried to allay the fear that the Tatas’ decision was a major setback to the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government and its industrialisation efforts. “On the contrary, many people have seen the determination of the CPI(M) and the chief minister to attract investment. People have also seen that the Tatas have left Bengal just because of Mamata Banerjee. Even Ratan Tata said so yesterday,” said Yechury.

As the CPI(M) tries to corner the Trinamool Congress chief on the issue and showcase its industrialisation efforts, Banerjee too has her game plan ready. According to her calculation, the Tatas’ decision will help her consolidate rural votes and farmers’ support. Anticipating success, she has asked her party managers to see that the Trinamool Congress jumps into action wherever there is resentment over land acquisition. At the sidelines of a protest march against the Indo-US nuclear deal, Yechury also hinted that the exit of the Tatas would be one of the main issues in the state in the next Lok Sabha elections.

“The rule of the majority has been violated. There were 13,000 stakeholders. Only 2,000 people objected and it (the project) couldn’t happen. In democracy, the ultimate jury is the people. Now the people of Bengal will have to decide if they want Banerjee’s politics to continue,” he said.

Terming the Tatas’ exit as “most unfortunate”, he said, “When the Maharashtra chief minister (Vilasrao Deshmukh) met Ratan Tata recently, he told Tata that Maharashtra was a safe place because there was no Mamata Banerjee there. Not only Bengal, but the whole of eastern India lost an opportunity to have an auto hub.”

According to the the CPI(M), the Tatas’ move will not trigger exodus of capital from West Bengal. “There are other big investments coming in. In fact, Bengal is one of the three leading states in terms of investment destinations. Even the Tatas have said that this will not affect their future investment decisions in the state,” said Yechury.

And as far as Banerjee’s allegation that the state government violated the tripartite agreement — among the state government, the governor and the Trinamool Party — on return of land to the farmers was concerned, Yechury said, “Nonsense. Out of the three parties involved in the agreement, only Mamata is saying so.”