Kolkata: A day after the ruling Left Front
observed 33 years of uninterrupted rule in West Bengal, a
senior leader and minister today said it has lost touch with
the people who wanted change, while a key partner criticised
the CPI(M).
"The Front has remained in power for long. Now, people
want a change. Earlier, only a handful clamoured for change in
the guard. Now the demand has become widespread," RSP leader
and PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami said while calling for
"ruthless self-introspection".
Goswami, who has criticised Chief Minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee and his party the CPI(M) on earlier occasions,
said, "We must find out why we are becoming unacceptable to
the people. Front activists right, from leaders to the
workers, will have to analyse the reasons."
Stating that it was immaterial whether the Left Front
returned to power in coming assembly elections, he said, it
was more important for Left parties to continue their struggle
for social change.
"They are carrying out their struggle in many places
in the country where they are not in power. Therefore, it is
no cause for disappointment," he told reporters.
Veteran AIFB leader Ashok Ghosh speaking at the 71st
foundation day of the party said, "Left unity cannot be forged
only by passing resolution in Alimudding Street (state CPIM
headquarters) or by occasionally convening a Left Front
meeting at the district level. Left unity has to be
strengthened from grassroot level to the top."
Speaking in same vein, party All India general
secretary Debabrata Biswas said, "We have to sit together, not
only in Alimudding street, but in the districts. We have to
reach out to the people through struggle."
Stating that 33 years of uninterrupted rule had
gradually led to deviations and lapses among the Left workers,
he said his party has identified the weaknesses and has taken
steps to strengthen the organisation.
In an obvious reference to the defeat of the Left
Front in successive elections in the state, Ghosh said both
the LF and LF government had to jointly implement programmes
for the people.
-PTI
