Bardhan calls Bengal govt ‘swollen-headed’
The CPI(M)-led Left Front government in West Bengal came under sharp attack from its main ally, the CPI whose general secretary A.B. Bardhan termed the ruling coalition as “swollen-headed”. He said that 33 years in power in West Bengal appeared to have got the Left Front “swollen-headed” and the “debacle” in the civic body
polls was a message to improve oneself. Bardhan acknowledged there was an alienation between the cadre and people and anti-incumbency factor played a role.
“They (Left Front) have to improve themselves. They have been too long in power. Maybe they got swollen-headed ... because of that they have got alienated. Perhaps some sort of bureaucratism crept in. All these things were very clear,” Mr Bardhan said in a television interview.
Mr Bardhan said he had feeling whether it was CPI or CPI(M), it seems that there has been “a sort of an alienation” between cadre, activists and people. Asked whether the election results were a verdict on Buddhadeb Bhattacharya’s chief ministership, Bardhan said he would not blame individuals and added that all must take the blame together.
When asked whether the Left Front has stopped being democratic, Mr Bardhan said, “I must say that has been so.” On the arrogance of the Left, he said, “may be, democracy in behaviour, in practice, in your relationship is very important.” Asked whether the poll results were a verdict on the 33-year rule of the Left Front in Bengal, Mr Bardhan said it was anti-incumbency factor. “It seems even if you work for people... Development... That is not enough,” he said.
Noting that it was a “very big defeat” and that he would use “debacle” to describe the verdict, he said, “you have to be with the people.”
You have to be among the people. You have to be sensitive to the people. “On whether there is a need for change in leadership, he said the present one is the best according to him.
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