The ruling CPM’s image has taken a beating in Kerala and West Bengal, but no leadership change is likely in the states. While Bengal is under Maoist attack, politburo member from Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan is embroiled in a graft case.
Senior leaders said the politburo and central committee meetings this weekend in Delhi would not change anything in these states despite unprecedented electoral reverses and intense infighting.
“The party is demoralised, but singling out people and punishing them is not the way forward. It is a question of collective responsibility, and we stand by that principle,” a leader said.
The meetings, however, would not be an antiseptic exercise. Sparks are likely to fly. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat is expected to face flak for his contribution to the Left’s worst electoral defeat in 32 years. His decision to float a makeshift Third Front just before the general election and withdraw support to the Congress-led UPA over the Indo-US nuclear deal has already come in for criticism from within the party and Left Front constituents.
The supporters of Kerala CM VS Achuthanandan are expected to be most vocal. “The pro-VS group in the central committee has already prepared a dossier on what senior CPM leaders said when the courts were preparing to prosecute [RJD chief] Lalu Prasad. At that time the CPM had taken a high moral ground on graft. Why is Vijayan getting full support of the party leadership now?” a Kerala leader said.
The Maoist violence in Bengal has won some reprieve for CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. “The CPM wants to present a united face to Trinamool and Congress, therefore we are solidly behind Buddha,” another leader said.
