By Indra Bhatt

Nothing is right for the Left Front led government in West Bengal. After more than three decades in power and virtually no opposition, CPIM and its allies are suffering from a growing rot within. The basic structure of its organisation is now beginning to fragment.

This is not only peculiar to CPIM in West Bengal, but in the other states as well where it has a presence – it is an overall malady within the party, and almost threatens its existence.

The Communist Party of India Marxist are still singing from their early hymn sheets, venerate Stalin, are strongly authoritative, and its ideology has not changed in a long while. They have, in addition, earned the sobriquet of being arrogant and losing touch with ground reality from their junior partner, the Communist Party of India (CPI) and allies like Forward Block and RSP.

Since CPIM is the most active in West Bengal its decadence is most noticeable in the state and is an indication of what may be in store. Evident enough is its failures and inability to live up to expectations of the masses it once ruled. There is a total loss of faith and hope with more than a majority believing that a change is needed primarily to save a losing state from further disaster.

Why did so large an organisation begin to rot from within?

In the recent past it is disillusionment and dissatisfaction amongst people along with bickering within the party that has caused the rot to set in. To add there are issues of non-transparency and dictatorial attitude of leaders that has jeopardised progress of the state at all levels.

CPIM ruled Left Front government had taken the masses for granted and with complacence believes that it would get away with whatever it does. The authoritative attitude of the party leadership has led to a brewing discontent amongst all levels, including the grass root party workers.

Young party members have begun to question decisions and policies – something never heard of three to four years ago. The new generation party workers are an educated lot and exposed to outside world. They refuse to follow what is being told but are looking for explanations for actions to be taken. In short, they have asked the leadership not to impose decisions but discuss their wisdom before.

Even CPM’s allies have been very critical of the manner in which administration is run and on the manner the police function. Surprising as it may, police have been ordered by the state government to eliminate even party workers of its allies. Not only has this led to mistrust with its allies but has also instilled fear.

Thus at the worker levels, the henchmen and their network have begun to migrate to an emerging opposition looking for a better tomorrow.

One of the major issues that led to this mistrust is in its drive towards industrialisation, CPIM’s decision to grab agriculture land disgruntled many and led to bitter resistance. Why farm land is being taken away and not barren or waste land that is available in plenty, is a question unanswered. Even from within the party, Abdur Rezzak Mollah the land reforms minister has come out openly criticising the farm land grab move.

The tribal belt in the state is in utter neglect with no government effort to set development projects. Central grant is under utilised and development has happened where CPIM has its stronghold. Little attention has been paid to sections where party members are a minority compared to others. It is inept handling of money with no proper rural development plan in place.

A very large section of the Muslim population is upset as well, primarily because of the Rizbanur case, and the killings in Nandigram. Healthcare is utterly poor in villages forcing people to come and spend more in city and town based hospitals.

The party leaders at all levels have been accused of bad habits in their life styles, social habits. Also in the limelight is the vast and varied business interest of children of the Marxist elites. More importantly, people feel that projects are held up because of nepotism and self interests within the party.

Within the CPIM party there is unhappiness too. The Bengal red brigade had expressed their displeasure its top leadership’s decision to withdraw support to the government at the centre. They wanted oppose the nuclear deal but not topple the government. In fact general secretary’s political maturity and insight has come in question.

Biman Bose the party secretary is no where in comparison and not competent enough to handle the present situation compared to his predecessors. So is the situation with the chief minister and his close associate Nirupam Sen. Both have been accused for the Nano fiasco and the failure to guide the party in the new age political world. Faith in this leadership is lost.

Second line leaders are in question too. Gautam Deb – minister for housing and public health engineering - is facing an inquest from the comptroller and audit general’s office. Ashoke Bhattacharya the minister for urban development and municipal affairs has been losing grip on his own constituency and from the poorly managed Darjeeling issue.

Particularly one could say that the party is facing a crisis of leadership. The lower level has migrated while the middle is directionless. None is in the horizon to take the realm from Buddhadev Bhattacharya. The only strong candidature of Nirupam Sen – the industry minister – is diluted, especially with his management of the Nano moving away.

Who would be the next chief minister if Buddhadeb Bhattacharya faces a loss of confidence within his party? No one knows for sure, at least at this juncture. In fact there is growing discontent amongst individual party members at the senior levels. The organisation structure has crumbled and now stands fragmented.

It is also sure that CPIM may not be able to depend on its allies for the mistrust developed. Neither can they be sure that allies would remain in the front in the next round of elections next year.

Its only hope lies on winning back the vote bank encashing mass sympathy after Jyoti Basu’s death.

Indiabiznews