"Grey hair" needed in leadership: CPI-M

In the face of strident demands for change in the party leadership in favour of young blood, a CPI-M bigwig today said there was a need for "grey hair". "You just cannot say 'remove grey hairs'. You need their experience and wisdom," CPI-M Central Committee member and a minister in the previous Left Front government Gautam Deb today said. Ever since the CPI-M fared poorly in the last Assembly election followed by a near-rout in the Lok Sabha election, demands for change in the old guard in the party helm have grown sharply, especially in the social media.

But the top leadership have stood their ground underlining the importance of the 'veterans'. Deb, also the party's North 24-Parganas district secretary, today said the district unit of the party had decided to create a special team of social media experts who would counter the allegations of 'incompetence' on the part of the aged leaders of the party during its worst crisis. "We will create a social media team which will counter the allegations against the leadership in the social media. There is a need for both experience, wisdom and youth," the leader said.

Deb said his district unit had identified at least 1,000 party workers and members who would be either sacked or suspended from the party because of their inability to stand up against the alleged Trinamool Congress onslaught during previous elections. "We don't need cowards in our party," Deb said. He, however, admitted that there was a need to induct more young people, especially tribals, minorities and women into the party.