Kolkata, July 03: “Is it better now? Will it get worse by 2011?” is the new line of thought in the West Bengal Left Front. While a majority in the party favour an all-out damage-control till the assembly elections in 2011, a minority section feels it is better to face the peoples’ verdict now for the sake of credibility.
Those favouring early polls feel the Lok Sabha and state civic poll results have made it clear that there is an overwhelming mood against the Left Front. They also feel it is impossible to reverse the trend by any kind of damage-control or public relations exercise in the remaining 18 months.
“My opinion is, if we cling to power amid such public rejection, the situation will turn worse in 2011. Rather, if we voluntarily face the people’s verdict now, we can at least project a sense of credibility that we, as leftists, always respect the people’s verdict,” a senior Front leader told DNA on condition of anonymity.
Even CPI(M)’s maverick leader and state transport minister Subhas Chakrabarty seems to accept the view. He says it is impossible to retain power by any political force if there is an overall rejection from the people. “If people do not want, can anybody retain power by using force? I knew that our municipal election results would be disastrous. It is impossible the reverse the trend of Lok Sabha elections so quickly,” he said. But he instantly expressed confidence that the CPI(M) and Left Front’s fortunes would turn around in 2011.
A majority of Left Front leaders, however, feel that facing the people’s verdict now would prove dangerous. The Left Front will get wiped out and the party’s membership base erode. “Most workers will leave us. We will not have enough members to carry the red flag,” said a Left Front leader.
Those in favour of continuing till 2011 want a change of leadership at the state and party level. Most vocal is state land & land reforms minister Abdul Rezzak Mollah. “If at all we want a turnaround in 2011, we need a thorough change, both at the state and at the party level,” he said.
–Agencies—