Bengal CPI(M) braces for major overhaul to induct young blood
Nearly two months after its worst-ever poll performance in West Bengal, the CPI(M) is set for a major overhaul in the State by replacing the old guard with new blood at all levels to ‘send out a message’.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front, which ruled Bengal for three decades since 1977, drew a blank in the 2019 election and lost deposit in 40 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats.
Facing strong challenges from the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP, the latest entrant in Bengal politics, the Left party has organised two State committee meetings since the election results in May showed its hold on the State slipping.
At the meetings, the party concluded that organisational change should happen not only at the grassroots and mid-levels but also at the top to as a signal to the electorate.
The Left party is also trying to reach out to the youth through social media.
“The party is going through an extraordinary situation and it calls for extraordinary measures. Earlier, the TMC was the only threat. Now, we are also facing challenges from the BJP,” CPI(M) Politburo member Hannan Mollah told PTI.
“We need to bring in more youth at the leadership level, who can lead mass movements against communalism and revive the organisation,” Mollah said.
According to CPI(M) sources, there is speculation that the 70-year-old Surya Kanta Mishra, who has often expressed the desire to step down as the party’s State secretary, could be replaced with someone comparatively ‘more young and agile’.
“Suryada had expressed desire to pave way for young leaders. Nothing has been decided as of now. But by the time we have the next State conference, we can have a new State secretary who is more young and agile,” said a senior CPI(M) leader, on condition of anonymity.
Final draft to be made
By August 15, all district committees have been asked to submit their proposal on the revival of the party’s organisation. Those suggestions would be looked into and a final draft prepared for central committee approval, he said.