It’s introspection time for CPI(M)

For the CPI(M), the poll debacle is set to re-open a much dreaded internal debate on issues of  land, industry and development.

The first signs of the impending storm, came on Friday, when after winning the poll, Abdur Razzak Mollaha - one of the few CPI(M) heavyweights to hold on to his seat - said, “If the party had removed the chief minister and his industry minister Nirupam Sen, the party could have saved its face.”

Razzak, who did not spare his party or his leaders, was expressing an opinion that is held by a sizeable section within the party. This outburst also indicates that the process of self-examination is well underway within the party.

Gautam Deb —  another party heavyweight — though he didn’t attack any individual or the party,  admitted on Friday that on the issue of land-grabbing, “Mamata Banerjee was correct that land should not be taken for industry. She was right and we were wrong.” He further added "This mistake had cost us dearly.’’

Incidentally, Deb was the spokesperson licensed to attack Mamata Banerjee during the campaign. He also lost his seat by a margin of over 31,000 votes.

The discordant voices are a signal of the confusion within the party regarding the way forwards.

The best line that sums up the situation perfectly came from a top CPI(M) leader who told the DNA, “Simply, people did not believe us when we wrote in our manifesto that rice, pulses and cooking oil would be cheaper and would be available through the Public Distribution System (PDS). We had a terrible PDS. Then why they should believe us?”