Developments
West Bengal Panchayat Polls
The fifth elections to the three-tier panchayati raj under Left Front [LF] rule has shed light on the direction of state politics and at the same time shaken the LF government to its roots. The LF, led by the CPI(M), tried its best to arrest the decline in its support base as evidenced in the Lok Sabha poll results, but achieved little success in this effort. At the gram (village) panchayat level the LF has lost 8.5% in terms of seats compared to the 1993 results; for the CPI (M) the decline is to the tune of 6%. At panchayat samiti (i.e., bloc level) the LF tally has gone down by 4%. At the zila parishad level, however, it has gone up by 1.8%, one of the reasons being that at the top a greater degree of unity could be achieved by LF partners. At the lower levels, loud and repeated proclama-tions of the " one (LF) candidate for one seat" formula notwithstanding, unity with RSP, FB and CPI eluded the CPI (M) in about 70% of the seats. After the polls the disunity culminated in bloody clashes among the partn-ers. The worst case was reported from Kala Hajla village under Basmati PS of 24 Parganas (South), where the CPI(M) organised a savage attack on RSP cadres and supporters, killing 6 and injuring many more.
The BJP-Trinamool opposition alliance, which was a resounding success in Parliament elections, failed to click in panchayat elections. The so-called "Save Bengal Front" floated by Ms Mamata Banerjee also proved a non-starter. The Trinamool could hardly win half of the seats it contested. The BJP improved its performance from 1993 but its high expectations were dashed. Surprisingly, the Congress showed much better performance compared to its dismal showing in the parliamentary elections. The SUCI and the CPI(ML), and some other smaller groups also won a few seats.
Election results do testify that the LF is losing its charm. The twin magic wands of land reforms and Panchayati raj, CPI(M)’s greatest achievements in late ’70s, no longer enthuse the masses. The way they have been resorting to terror, killings, rigging and partisan use of the administration is testimony enough of their desperation and of the fact that support is no longer coming spontaneously. It is the colossus juggernaut of the party apparatus that makes up for the defeciencies. But for how long? The rightist opposition is fast catching up. Besides mobilising the youth in small towns, the Trinamool has also penetrated in the villages and of course among a section of the rural poor.
All-pervading corruption, nepotism and widespread terror to suppress all voices of protest — the common practice of CPI(M) in the countryside — were the main issues in this election. In 1993 the CPI(M) had organised the infamous Karanda massacre where 5 agrarian labourers were butchered to death. This time too there were instances galore where its cadres resorted to atrocities on women including rape.
A new round of instability is now going on centering the panchayat board formation. As rival groups are engaged in horse-trading and doing everything possible to capture more and more boards, tensions are likely to flare up once again in rural areas.
We won 37 seats this time and in nearly 150 seats we lost by a narrow margin. Compared to 1993 our position has slightly improved and we are also in a position of forming boards in cooperation with other left parties. We have decided to take the support of the CPI(M) wherever the initiative in board formation will remain with us. We shall be extending support to them only where the BJP-Trinamool-Congress are formidable forces and where the CPI(M) and ourselves can work together. In all other areas, where we are engaged in serious conflicts with the CPI(M), we shall continue to play the role of revolutionary opposition.
Cracks have started appearing in the CPI(M) base and we have carved out a space for revolutionary left politics. In coming days we shall have to exert all our energy to make a qualitative leap forward.
Reservation Bill Now! A militant protest demonstration in front of
the Parliament on 27 May culminated the one month long campaign demanding 33% reservation
for women. More than a 100 women participated in the from AIPWA Delhi jammed the
Parliament Street. The demonstrators were addressed by Srilatha Swaminathan, Kumudini
Pati, Jeeta Kaur and Bhasha Singh. The main demands were: |