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Beginning of the End?

Beginning of the End?

Author: C R Irani
Publication: The Statesman
Date: May 25, 2003

It is unnecessary to recall the horrors of the panchayat polls in West Bengal to come to the conclusion that something is very rotten in the state of Denmark. Signs are unmistakable; the Marxists are losing their grip and it is no one's fault but their own. Journalistic investigations have established that the CPI-M hijacked about 20,000 seats, fully a third, by the expedient of physically preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations. There are variations on the theme; several Independent candidates are set up to fudge the picture and the ever willing Congress fossil, Pranab Mukherjee, is pressed into service to gleefully accept crumbs off the top CPI-M table, for the common object of showing that Mamata Banerjee's Trinamul now belongs to the history books. The Centre should note that she is still the only credible mass leader in the state. Intimidation and threats are supplemented by murders, rape, and sheer terror on a scale that boggles the mind, with the police in attendance. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee may publicly ask partymen to cease and desist, but his intervention comes too late to make a difference; he nevertheless deserves credit for making the effort. It does no good for Anil Biswas to be clever and offer to escort opposition candidates to file nominations on the premise that their parties are too weak even in their strongholds to attract candidates! It is not even a debating point; it can only stand as the product of a sick mind. The last word is with Jyoti Basu. These disgraceful events did not happen; it was all an invention of a gang of three newspapers - The Statesman, Bartaman and the Ananda Bazar Patrika group. Is the former chief minister comfortable with the new titles or does force of habit prevent him from rethinking his preferences?

One is driven to the conclusion that either CPI-M leaders are being more devious than usual or they have lost control of criminal elements they use as conveyor belts to bring in votes at election time. The Frankenstein they have fostered is self-sustaining; it is also infectious. The same tactics are now visible in other parties; it is a question of who commands the bigger and more fearsome goon brigade. The United Front is re-christened Left Front; just as well as there is not much of the united visible. It should not be any comfort to Alimuddin Street that the RSP and Forward Bloc have no place else to go; bitterness so wantonly generated will affect the functioning of the Left and violence will erupt constantly. This is not conducive to harmonious functioning, to any sense of purpose or to good governance. In the days when men like Pramode Dasgupta kept Jyoti Basu in check, agonizing reappraisals were undertaken. Now we have glib play on words, which casts doubt on the intellectual equipment of those claiming to lead the party. Men of straw dressed in a little brief authority strut around thinking they are making a great impression.

I have often wondered at the obvious paradox. This is without doubt a civilised part of the country. It has intellect, thinks deeply, is free of religious fanaticism and is not easily fooled. The paradox is that party leaders act as though they have a monopoly of intelligence and expect their outrageous positions to be instantly accepted. Take their professed concern for the working class. Corruption and mindless violence have ensured that industry and commerce cannot function leading to hardship and misery for workers. Attracting investment is still dependent on deals with Alimuddin Street; failure to take the precaution can result in some considerable inconvenience. With the police and the administration firmly under party control there is not much room for good governance. And it shows. Whether it is the callous treatment meted out to tannery owners for extraneous reasons, even to the extent of keeping the truth from the Supreme Court or the shifting convenience of party leaders in allowing hawkers to set up stalls on Kolkata pavements and remove them at will, causing hardship that no capitalist would dare impose - the message is the same - politics is all; the party is all!

It is amazing to me that the CPI-M, a party that claims to be devoted to the people should show such contempt for them, for their interests and for their welfare. It is time to sound a warning. The CPI-M must clean up their act. They are making a cardinal mistake in taking the people of Bengal for granted. One can visualise two scenarios. The likely breakup of the Left Front will leave a vacuum to be filled by lawless goons, skilled in extortion and violence, leading to chaos. The alternative - the vacuum may be filled by another regimented party. Why do Alimuddin Street insist on being both blind and deaf?
 


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