07-26-2008, 12:51 AM
Pioneer, 26 july 2008
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Anger in Bolpur over Somnath's expulsionÂÂ
Saugar Sengupta | Bolpur/Kolkata
An overwhelming section of Bengali middleclass feel that Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was a victim of regional politics in the CPI(M), which is dominated by the Kerala line.
Many CPI(M) sympathisers in Bolpur, Chatterjee's constituency, believe that the party has lost its class character. Rather it has been hijacked by "campus elitists" who have little or no idea of mass struggle.
The anti-Marxist wave that has recently gained strength in West Bengal has suddenly caught wind in Bolpur-Shantiniketan area after Chatterjee was expelled from the party "for upholding the neutrality and integrity of the high Chair" that his party had allowed him to occupy.
Dulal Pal, a local watch dealer, downed shutters of his shop and frantically looked for Chatterjee's cell number until he got it past midnight before sending him a "shock message".
"The CPI(M) blames the Congress for dynastic rule. Now, what is Prakash Karat doing with the help of wife Brinda. The CPI(M) is not what it used to be. They will face the consequence in Bolpur," said Madan Dhali, a fruit vendor.
A professor in Shantiniketan said, "It is high time the CPI(M) changed its style of functioning. It sounds paradoxical that they are afraid of expelling thousands of criminals in the party for the fear of losing polls but it takes half-the-strength of the Politburo to decide on a personality like Somnath Babu."
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Some cracks in CPM in Bengal. May Bengal be rid of these jokers. Will Somant Chaterjee beomce new rallying point of anti-CPM or he has no fight left to correct the past ills?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Anger in Bolpur over Somnath's expulsionÂÂ
Saugar Sengupta | Bolpur/Kolkata
An overwhelming section of Bengali middleclass feel that Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was a victim of regional politics in the CPI(M), which is dominated by the Kerala line.
Many CPI(M) sympathisers in Bolpur, Chatterjee's constituency, believe that the party has lost its class character. Rather it has been hijacked by "campus elitists" who have little or no idea of mass struggle.
The anti-Marxist wave that has recently gained strength in West Bengal has suddenly caught wind in Bolpur-Shantiniketan area after Chatterjee was expelled from the party "for upholding the neutrality and integrity of the high Chair" that his party had allowed him to occupy.
Dulal Pal, a local watch dealer, downed shutters of his shop and frantically looked for Chatterjee's cell number until he got it past midnight before sending him a "shock message".
"The CPI(M) blames the Congress for dynastic rule. Now, what is Prakash Karat doing with the help of wife Brinda. The CPI(M) is not what it used to be. They will face the consequence in Bolpur," said Madan Dhali, a fruit vendor.
A professor in Shantiniketan said, "It is high time the CPI(M) changed its style of functioning. It sounds paradoxical that they are afraid of expelling thousands of criminals in the party for the fear of losing polls but it takes half-the-strength of the Politburo to decide on a personality like Somnath Babu."
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Some cracks in CPM in Bengal. May Bengal be rid of these jokers. Will Somant Chaterjee beomce new rallying point of anti-CPM or he has no fight left to correct the past ills?