As the undisputed leader and the mainstay of the Left Front in Bengal, the CPI(M)is the natural target of sharp criticism from its Front allies like the CPI, the Forward Bloc(FB) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP). Interestingly, the CPIM)”s Central leadership has been more critical than the State party in its reaction to the SC’s verdict. It admitted that the political and administrative lapses of the party and the administration in the acquisition process had been responsible for the setback. This was indicated in a statement issued by the CPI(M) Politburo.

But State Party Secretary Dr Suryakanta Mishra insisted that the provisions of the 1894 act were difficult to implement in case of Singur, while the state government had tried to do its best in the matter. Observers see this as Dr Mishra trying to put up self defence---of a sort—for the state party.

Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee declined comments when newsmen pressed him for a reaction on the SC verdict. Trouble within the State CPI(M) is not confined only to differences of perception between it and the central leadership. Its allies, especially the FB and the RSP continued their criticism of the bigger party at recent meetings of the Left Front.

FB leaders have lost no time in reminding people that they had opposed the ‘coercive ‘approach of the State Government and CPI(M) workers at Singur during the acquisition in 2006 and thereafter. It had alienated the locals and opposition parties along with Ms Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had only taken the political advantage of a deteriorating situation, they say.

A further point these parties have raised in their reactions both within the LF meetings as well as to the media is that Ms Banerjee was by no means the sole leader of the anti-Singur campaign. She had received significant support from sections of the Left, the extreme as well as other forces. It may be recalled even the Congress and the BJP had stood by the parties opposing the LF at the time. Be that as it may, the fact that it has been the TMC led by Ms Banerjee that has drawn the maximum political dividend from the agitation, remains indisputable.

On behalf of the FB, its veteran General Secretary Ashok Ghosh had participated in a few rallies organized by anti LF forces. The RSP and the CPI had expressed cautious warnings in their statements, pointing out that the LF moves were antagonising locals.

RSP leader Manoj Battacharya has followed the same theme in recent LF meetings. He says that merely blaming the loopholes or the inadequacies in the provisions of the old 1894 Acquisition Act in the present context, cannot be used as political justification of the wrong stand taken by the LF.

The position taken by the CPI is more intriguing. The CPI State leadership has joined others in criticising the CPI(M) over Singur. However, recent comments made by AISF leader Kanhaiya , suggesting that CPI(M) politburo leader Prakash Karat could begin teaching in the US, if he did not want to fight the Fascist tendencies of the Bharatiya Janata party(BJP) have set off fresh speculation about the CPI”s role.

Student and youth leader Kanhaiya did not mention Mr. Karat by name, while addressing a gathering in Kolkata. But the state CPI did not issue any statement dissociating itself from the views expressed by the most prominent youth leader in the country at the moment. Left Forces in Bengal are considering an idea to utilise Mr, Kanhaiya’s image , urging him to address as many meetings as possible in West Bengal and revive the flagging LF campaign against the ruling TMC. The AISF is the national Students” body affiliated to the CPI.

Significantly, the state CPI has muted its direct criticism of the CPI(M) of late, while its leaders have stressed the need for greater Left unity in Bengal and India, including the CPI(M-L), Liberation , the SUC and others not within the Left fold. Given Mr. Kanhaiya’s present stature within the LF, it seems likely that the CPI will adopt a position in the days ahead that will be more supportive of the CPIM)”s state unit---- it will support the state CPIM)”s stand of involving the Congress if necessary against both the TMC and the BJP, in joint movements on political issues in the future. Central to such a position would be the general understanding among the parties involved that both the BJP and the TMC have adopted Fascist methods to decimate all opposition.

This would contradict the line adoped by the CPIM)”s central leadership, voiced by former party Secretary Prakash Karat. He feels that the BJP is following an autocratic style of functioning, but cannot be characterized as ‘Fascist’ yet. He has expanded on this theme at length in the party mouthpiece and elsewhere.

Critics of the Left find all this as more of a semantic exercise, a quibbling over details, at a time when the very existence of opposition parties is in question in Bengal, as well as in the rest of the country. They point to the present disputes over the RSS trying to force its viewpoint and programmes in educational institutions, the worsening treatment of dalits and the minorities in some parts of the country.

“What is better for us in this situation? Should we all try to come together against forces like the BJP and the TMC before they consolidate and do further damage to the political system? Or, must we wait and let them get stronger and then try to mobilise the people on specific issues? That is the choice before us, “, says a CPI leader.

As of now, there is no sign in Bengal or elsewhere that the Left forces have found an answer –yet. (IPA Service)