CPM rethinks drive

By SUBRATA CHATTOPADHYA and KAUSHIK PRADHAN

Kolkata, May 22: Witnessing the defeat of the Left party in its bastions like East Medinipur and South 24 Parganas, the CPI(M) satraps are having a second thought over the industrialisation drive initiated by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s government. Although, industry minister Nirupam Sen ruled out reviewing its industrial policy based on acquisition of farmland, a large section of the party ideologues are contemplating to apply a brake on the land acquisition drive. Even Mr Sen, the main architect behind the industrial drive, has admitted, "We have not been able to communicate properly the benefits of industrialisation. People misunderstood us. However, we have begun rectifying it." The preliminary internal analysis of the poll results have clearly shown that acquisition of farmland for industry was the main reason for alienation of people from the party. "It’s clear that we have not been able to make people understand our stand on industry," CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose conceded on Thursday.

Sources revealed that the reports from districts have clearly indicated an "erosion of credibility" in the Marxists party’s new development mantra.

Land and land reforms minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah said, "The industrial policy vis-à-vis the land acquisition drive have proved a boomerang for the party. At least, the results of the panchayat polls have shown that the farmers do not want industry at the cost of the land."

Echoing Mr Mollah, state sports and transport minister and the CPI(M) state committee member Subhas Chakraborty said, "The result is clearly a mandate against our industrial policy. We should not take it lightly. I feel we should do a introspection."

Nanda Gopal Bhattacharya, state minister and senior CPI leader said, "This is an unexpected result. We have failed to convince the people about industrialisation, including, on issues like Singur and Nandigram."