Junior partners of Left Front unhappy

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 21: Forward Bloc's recently declared 'go it alone' policy that is to be exercised during the next three-tier panchayat elections appeared as an icebreaker to the other partners of the Left Front in Cooch Behar district. Not only the grass-root level supporters of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) but also senior leaders of these two parties came out to criticise the 'autocratic' role of the CPI-M in functioning of the Left Front in this district.

 

The RSP had bagged three gram panchayat seats in the last three-tier panchayat elections though the Left Front allotted two seats only to the party. Secretary of the Cooch Behar district unit of RSP, Mr Narayan Deb alleged that a total Left Front unity in its true sense was never attained in this district due to the CPI-M's big brotherly attitude.

 

Mr Deb claimed that the RSP has sufficient organisational strength in Tufanganj, Dinhata and a few areas in Cooch Behar Sadar sub-divisions. But the CPI-M never allowed them to field candidates in these areas. In the name of Left Front unity the RSP is allotted with two seats only but they (both the CPI-M and the Forward Bloc) have a tendency to field ghost candidates against the RSP's official candidates.

 

Aggrieved with the situation the RSP had to fight alone in the last rural polls though they did not declared it officially. "There is no Left Front unity in this district. It is only a bilateral understanding between the CPI-M and the Forward Bloc. The two parties take decisions and that are passed as decisions of Left Front. We cannot accept such decisions as Left Front's", the RSP leader said. "Left Front unity turned a farce here", he opined. This time, the district unit of RSP is yet to adopt a stance. It will be declared after discussing the matter with the party's state leadership, Mr Deb added.

 

The CPI too came down heavily on the Left Front and its major partner CPI-M. The secretary of Cooch Behar district unit of CPI, Mr Surath Chakraborty alleged that total Left Front unity was never occurred in this district though it was expected. "We have eight gram panchayat members and two Panchayat Samity members", he said. Referring the situation that came up after declaration of the Forward Bloc's 'go it alone' policy the CPI leader said they will make their standpoint clear after discussing it with state leadership. The issue will be raised in the party's state conference too, Mr Chakraborty said.

 

In the political report that was tabled at the party's recently held district conference it was alleged that in the last three-tier panchayat polls the CPI-M and Forward Bloc had defeated their candidates by fielding ghost candidates at several places where the CPI fielded their candidates following Left Front guideline.

 

The relation of CPI-M and Forward Bloc turned strained after the last Assembly election. It is harming the Left Front's image. After the Assembly poll Left Front meeting was held only once to review the poll results. Bipartite meetings were held several times but it cannot strengthen the Left Front as a whole, the report said.

 

Criticising the role of Left Front the CPI leader mentioned that when emphasis should be given on unity there is a tendency to ignore the smaller partners instead. Meetings of Left Front are never arranged at sub-division level, not to say about panchayat level. It is possible to avoid many unwanted happenings if there is an opportunity to discuss these issues at Left Front meetings. Regular meetings of Left Front are needed for this, Mr Chakraborty said. []