By accepting Left support in Siliguri, the Congress has given clear signals it is no more willing to succumb to Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee’s arm-twisting.
The CPI(M)’s support for a Congress mayor in Siliguri has changed equations in the party. Earlier split across ‘Karat line versus Bengal line’ earlier, the next politburo meeting on October 11 could see a “Karat line” versus “rest of politburo.”
Party sources in Bengal say the state’s representatives in the politburo will emphasise on implementing the “Siliguri model” nationally. After all, tension between the Congress and Trinamool became more pronounced after the Congress got its mayoral candidate, Gangotri Dutta, elected with Left support, in the process defeating Trinamool candidate Gautam Deb.
By accepting Left support in Siliguri, the Congress has given clear signals it is no more willing to succumb to Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee’s arm-twisting. “We have signalled that in extreme difficulty it is only the Left that will bail out the Congress,” a senior CPI(M) leader said.
This Bengal-line represented by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, state industry and commerce minister Nirupam Sen and LF chairman Biman Bose is likely to divide the politburo evenly. Supporters include senior politburo member Sitaram Yechuri, who had criticised withdrawal of support to the earlier UPA government over the N-deal.
Then there is Tripura CM Manik Sarkar, who feels a cordial relationship with the Congress nationally will help in smooth running of his government. Even CPI(M) secretary in Andhra Pradesh, BV Raghavulu, could toe the Bengal line, as the party needs Congress backing to establish a base there.
The seventh politburo member to toe this line could be Citu general secretary Md Amin. Toeing the Karat line are Brinda Karat, SR Pillai, Citu president MK Pandhe, CPI(M) Kerala state secretary Pinarai Vijayan, Kerala home minister Kodiyari Balakrishnan, K Vardarajan and Prakash Karat himself.
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