Hard Questions And Some Answers

Union Railway Minister Mamata Bannerjee's pathological hatred for the CPI(M) will prove to be her undoing. Her decision to send two ministers of state to Lalgarh, despite appeals from Left leaders as well as her own cabinet colleague P.Chidambaram, reflects an obsession that will retard the functioning and credibility of the Trinamool Congress in the state and the country. Besides doing incalculable harm to West Bengal. The Congress party of course is vying with Mamata in irresponsible behaviour in that its spokespersons in Delhi have gone on record asking the West Bengal government to either cope with the Maoist violence or quit. These kind of comments at a time when the CPI(M) leaders and cadres are being attacked and killed by the Maoist insurgents smack of political blindness, and a complete absence of responsibility. It also sends out signals to the Congress party in West Bengal to join hands with the Trinamool cadres and oppose the CPI(M)'s efforts to restore normality in Lalgarh and other affected areas. It is also a sad reflection on what passes for politics today, when one upmanship takes over the need for united and concerted action against a common problem. It is true that West Bengal is in urgent need of a political overhaul. But those supposedly non aligned intellectuals advocating this in the state are following dangerous logic. One, that their job is to ensure the defeat of the West Bengal government regardless of who takes over. As a change must happen. Two, the Trinamool Congress takeover is to be encouraged, even applauded. Both are totally wrong premises as 'intellectuals' are supposed to be different from the masses and have to be responsible for the outcome of their advice. And those who actually think that Mamata Banerjee can deliver, either have not understood her and her brand of politics or are as consumed by anti-Left passions as the Trinamool Congress chief. The contention of this column is that one, a overhaul is necessary but importantly, this has to take the form of a complete shake up of the Left in West Bengal. This is where the 'intellectuals' should direct their efforts, and use the opening given by the elections to insist on a shake up within the Left. It is imperative that forces such as those represented by the ultras and the Trinamool in the state are not just kept at bay but defeated, but this can only happen if the CPI(M) presents itself as a truly progressive, pro-people party by moving away from the arrogance and the corruption that has overtaken its state leadership and cadres. There are voices being raised within the CPI(M) and outside for precisely such an overhaul but unfortunately the attempt by the leadership is to drown these again. If this happens no one will be able to prevent the demise of the CPI(M) and the rise of the Trinamool that will weaken the progressive forces not just in West Bengal but across the country. It cannot be the case of even those intellectuals who still describe themselves as "Left" and are currently holding Mamata Banerjee's hand, that the collapse of the organized Left will help the progressive struggle in the country. Or that a Left of centre space is not necessary as a two party system occupied by the Right will be the best option for the toiling masses. .