Is it a fatigue of power or simply a sense of foreboding? These are the questions cropping up in the inner circle of the ruling CPI(M), ahead of the crucial Assembly polls, after at least four heavyweight sitting MLAs (including three Cabinet ministers) have expressed their reluctance to contest this time.
Insiders revealed that the unwillingness of four stalwart office-bearers of the Left Front government, including state commerce and industries minister Nirupam Sen (a party politburo member), state health minister Suryakanta Mishra (a central committee member), state panchayat minister Anisur Rahaman and Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim (a state committee member) have placed the party in a soup. Sensing that replacing them may send a wrong message, the party is desperately trying to field them to pre-empt further rumour mill that the party leadership have become sceptic about the prospect of the party in the hustings.
Sources revealed, the state commerce and industries minister and the Speaker have time and again told the party to relieve them citing their ill health. Significantly, the Speaker has already announced publicly (his decision has angered state party boss Biman Bose) that this ensuing Assembly session will be his swansong. However, Mr Sen’s reluctance to be a contestant this time has come as a jolt to the beleaguered party mandarins.
“Mr Sen had been the face of industrialisation the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government initiated which however eventually met roadblocks in Singur and Nandigram. But at this critical juncture, if he decides to quit: this will send a wrong message to the people as well as to the political opponents. They will surely encash the issue in the poll campaigns that he was dropped for his failed industrial policy,” said party secretariat member and Citu leader Deepak Dasgupta.
Interestingly, for the state panchayat minister, the reason for his reluctance is quite different. He cited that his continuous stint as peoples representative since 1978, ranging from a village panchayat pradhan to panchayat samity chairman, a MLA to a minister, has tired him. “Now I want some rest,” he said. However, political circle in Murshidabad believe that there are different story behind his reluctance to fight again. “As Domkal has now become a Congress citadel and the CPI(M) is losing its ground, it may be the reason for his unwillingness,” said a district leader.
This apart, the CPI(M) in particular and the Left Front in general is also in a quandary because around 20 Left Front MLAs, including six Cabinet ministers, have refused to contest from the constituencies they represent. These legislators and ministers want to stay away from the electoral battle unless they are offered “safe seats” or constituencies where a win is guaranteed.