Since its defeat in the assembly elections, CPI(M) leaders allege that over 600 party offices cannot function because of violence and harassment from Trinamool Congress supporters. Despite repeated complaints to state Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee, there has been no improvement in the situation.

For the first time in decades, the CPI(M), which is organizing its long awaited party Congress in Kerala, has declared that it cannot grassroot level party branch conferences in Bengal. Branch members have often complained of high-handed behaviour from local committee (LC) members in the past. This time, instead at the LC level, their grievances if any will be disposed of at a higher level. The reason: lack of manpower at the branch level. Since delegates to the Congress are chosen by majority from the conferences at lower levels, such trends indicate the mounting stress for state party leaders as they try to keep their flock together. Left sources also suggest that despite several appeals within the party to encourage relatively younger members( aged below 40) to come forward and play a more assertive role, the response has not been highly positive in terms of numbers. Most young members are severely critical of the geriatric state leadership. They are not convinced that if they come forward, their views would be accommodated.

It is not as though younger CPI(M) cadres are just upset over the corruption and arbitrary ways of their seniors within the party, in the name of observing “democratic centralism” within a Marxist party. They also question the administrative priorities pursued by the outgoing 7th left front government, as well as its ideological commitment. A DYF leader said,” There are people in the left camp who think that the Maoists at least have a definite ideology, right or wrong, unlike other parties.”

The CPI(M) leadership has not been idle. It has tried to hold on to its political space, even while preparing for the coming party Congress. Rallies, marches and meetings have been organised to protest against price rise, corruption the assault on TU rights and other issues, both in Kolkata and the districts. Senior leaders from former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee downwards have attended these programmes.

But the lack of enthusiasm and popular support have been palpable. Left leaders admit that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) still enjoys popular support and people are not in a mood to go against the ruling party just yet.

As for the CI(M)”s allies like the CPI, the RSP and the Forward Bloc, the situation of anything, is more critical. For these parties their very survival is open to question. Leaders of these parties now criticise the errors of once more powerful CPI(M) leaders more freely, but again there is a lack of public reactions, .this is not surprising in that after all these parties did participate in a CPI(M)-led coalition for 34 years. Their “criticism” such as it is comes too late to be convincing..

The smaller allies had also decided to meet more often then before among themselves and taking on the CPI(M) more strongly now. They insisted that the bigger party should also make a practice of joining programmes organised by them instead of the CPI(M) taking the initiative in launching agitations against the TMC, all the time. At left front meetings, the smaller parties have also raised afresh the instances of the bigger party’s highhandedness in the past. For the most part, CPI(M) leaders have listened patiently — a rare trait! - without reacting much. Publicly, they have stressed the need for maintaining “left unity”.

All in all, not a positive scenario for the demoralized Bengal left. However, both at the national and international level, opposition prospects appear more encouraging. State left leaders take confidence from the recent upsurge of popular anger from the US and Europe against the effects of globalisation and from the widespread revulsion in India over economic corruption and price rise. They think it is a question of time before the tide of popular opinion would turn against the ruling parties both at the centre and in the states. (IPA Service)