In the changed political scenario, the CPI(M) has decided to adopt a two-pronged strategy to remain relevant in state politics: blowing hot, blowing cold against the ruling Trinamul Congress. On the one side, the red party will take to the streets to highlight the alleged Trinamul Congress atrocities against party ranks and on the other, it will try to project itself as an “effective and responsible Opposition” within and outside the Assembly. Insiders revealed the party mandarins are now divided into two poles. A section of the party leadership, particularly in districts where the party cadres are at the receiving end, wants the party to take a belligerent stand and take on the ruling party in order to boost the sagging morale of CPI(M) ranks. “If we give them (Trinamul Congress) free hand to bite and beat us, it will spell doom for the party. If we meekly tolerate their continuous attacks against our party ranks then there will an organisational collapse and a mass exodus of party cadre is bound to take place,” said party MLA Abdur Rezzak Mollah who had recently led a fight-back against land-grabbing allegedly by the Trinamul Congress at Bhangor in South 24 Parganas.
Mr Mollah’s advocacy of a fight back has found support from a section of party leadership. Echoing Mr Mollah’s view, party state secretary Biman Bose said: “Terror tactics by the ruling party are to be exposed in all possible manners and if necessary have to be resisted by mobilising the poor and the persecuted. In the present situation, larger and larger mobilisation of the people is the key to effectively answer the challenge.”
While Mr Mollah and leaders like Tarit Topdar, Amitava Nandi, Manab Mukherjee and Rabin Deb favour a firm stand, another section including former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattach-arjee, Gautam Deb and Suryakanta Mishra are reasoning it is not the right time to strike back for it will send a wrong message to the people.
“We have to change our mindset and have to play the role of a model Opposition in this honeymoon period of the new government. Let them make more mistakes and then we will have enough ammunition to strike back,” Mr Bhattacharjee was quoted as saying in a party meeting.
Dr Mishra suggested a way to come out of this dilemma. “We have decided to take a middle path now. We will launch movements against the Trinamul atrocities and mis-governance on the streets and will play the role of a responsible Opposition within the Assembly. We will strike back surely but not before winning back the confidence of the people,” the leader of Opposition added.