Trinamool-BJP combine trying to cash in on CPI(M) rift

By Malabika Bhattacharya

CALCUTTA, MAY 12. A controversy appears to have broken out in West Bengal's political circles on Wednesday's meeting in Delhi between the Railway Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, and the State Transport Minister, Mr. Subhash Chakraborty, amid speculation on a convulsion in the CPI(M) ranks in regard with growing dissidence after the municipal elections.

According to reports, Mr. Chakraborty who is currently causing headaches to the CPI(M) by openly stoking the fires of rebellion in the party had a meeting for about 10 minutes with Ms. Banerjee who is posing a challenge to the ruling communists.

The CPI(M) circles are reacting strongly in light of the party injunction against any unauthorised meeting with or comments on Ms. Banerjee especially at a time when a string of key civic elections are round the corner.

``It was a routine meeting concerning the development of West Bengal,'' Mr. Chakraborty commented declining to be drawn into the current speculations about a coming together of the Trinamool Congress-BJP combine and the dissidents of the State Congress(I) and the CPI(M) before the Assembly elections slated for early next year.

A section of observers are tempted to connect the meeting between Ms. Banerjee and Mr.Chakraborty with unsubstantiated reports that a section of the CPI(M), now marginalised in the party owing to a combination of factors, might consider floating a separate platform for their political survival.

In the final analysis, this section argues that the elusive mahajot or grand alliance would be solemnised between now and the next Assembly elections with the coming together of various forces, including the CPI(M) dissidents who are at the moment giving the impressions that they are willing to go a long way for their goal.

Buttressing these assumptions are reports in the anti- CPI(M) press that the CPI(M) leadership , tired of Mr. Chakraborty and company's increasing violation of party injunctions, is thinking of initiating disciplinary measures against them which might lead to their leaving the party in the days ahead.

Both the Trinamool Congress and its ally, the BJP, are cashing in on this media-created impression seeking to convince the people that the CPI(M) is headed for a split. Some CPI(M) dissidents' pronouncements as well as acts designed to embarrass the party leadership are contributing to this perception.

However, the weakness of this assumption lies in the fact that it does not match with the ground realities. That the CPI(M) dissidents such as Mr. Chakraborty, Mr. Saifuddin Chowdhury, the former MP and Mr. Samir Putatunda and their associates who are all products of the communist movement of the golden 50s, 60s and the 70s are so determined to break the party as to join hands with the Trinamool-BJP combine is too facile a theory.

Having worked with giants such as the Chief Minister, Mr. Jyoti Basu, the late Promode Dasgupta and battle-scarred colleagues such as Mr. Biman Bose, and Mr. Anil Biswas, Mr. Chakraborty, a mass leader in his own right , is an unlikely candidate for joining the Trinamool Congress which draws strengths from its association with the BJP.

As it appears, Mr. Chakraborty is meeting Ms. Banerjee at periodic intervals, only after obtaining Mr. Basu's approval which he does inform to keep the party headquarters presumably for the purpose of needling it.

``None of us can imagine breaking up the party and joining the Trinamool Congress which is a political upstart,'' Mr. Chowdhury, said.

According to party insiders, Ms. Banerjee, having embarked upon the hardest part of her task, i.e., positioning the party as a respectable, viable and acceptable alternative to the CPI(M)-led Left Front, is finding it difficult to project a please-all face.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : WB loan for AP project
Next     : Church attacked in Indore