CPI(M) still gropes in the dark

Faced with an unprecedented mass upsurge in rural Bengal after the electoral setback, the CPI(M) state secretariat members met in an emergency meeting to look for a way out from the present political crisis. After hours of deliberation, the party issued a brief statement expressing its concern over violence in Lalgarh and elsewhere. Also, an emergency meeting of the Left Front has been convened tomorrow morning. The chief secretary Ashokmohan Chakravarty said today that the administration will deploy additional paramilitary forces in Lalgarh.

The state has got additional five companies of Central forces. The chief secretary has said that the West Bengal government is in touch with Jharkhand administration and efforts are on to seal the border to restrict the movements of the Naxalites there. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee often complains that the Naxalites are using Jharkhand as their base to launch attack on Bengal. So, with additional help, the state is ready to launch anti-Naxalite operation.

But the administration is now in a Catch 22 situation. If they don’t take any action, which has been their policy for the past six months, that does not deter the tribals from taking the offensive. If they take the hard option, then there is a risk of spilling blood of the tribals. Politically, this is not at all acceptable to the ruling Left in the present volatile situation. By continuing their attack on the ruling CPIM workers and party offices and police camps, the Naxalites are provoking the government to step into that trap.

There is a strong apprehension among some Front partners that the CPI(M) will finally take a decision to change the chief minister with someone else. A senior leader of Left Front who had spoken to the CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose hours before the secretariat meeting, found him highly depressed and morose.

The Left Front leader apprehends that the CPI(M) state leadership might announce their decision soon. But, Rezzak Molla, a CPI(M) leader and minister for land and land reforms, is not that sure. Molla feels, “It is difficult for the party to arrive at some decision as there are contrary opinions prevailing among the state leaders of the party.” The circle close to central leadership in Delhi is vehemently denying the possibility of any such development.

But notwithstanding their denial, the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government is under tremendous pressure from within the ruling Left Front, and more so from the CPI(M). After the poll, the CPI(M) workers and leaders are being attacked in several districts in south Bengal. According to CPI(M) state committee account, more than 42 party workers and sympathisers had been killed during and after election. Yesterday, after a district committee member was murdered in broad daylight in Burdwan, a longstanding stronghold of the CPI(M), and a new two-storied house of a zonal secretary in Lalgarh demolished by angry mob, the party members from different districts jammed the telephone lines of party headquarters at Alimuddin Street with panic calls. Earlier, the CPI(M) MLAs had complained before the chief minister that the administration remained completely inactive and indifferent while they were being attacked.

A senior leader of the Front said, “The CPI(M) will have to take some hard decision. They don’t have much time. An emergency situation demands emergency measures. So, the   conventional method of placing all these serious matters before the politburo and central committee will have to give a go by. Perhaps, they (CPIM leaders in Bengal) will keep the party central committee posted over phone.”

But the question of change of guard gives rise to another question. Who will replace Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee? A section of the Left feels the party will have to think out of box and choose someone who goes not have any ‘pro-capital’ image.

A surprise name doing the round now is Rezzak Molla, the minister with rural background, who steadfastly opposed the land acquisition policies during Nandigram and Singur days. But, the party insiders doubt if the party leadership will consider him since Rezzak Molla is not even a member of the state secretariat.