Karat for revamp, members want to quit

Karat for revamp, members want to quit

30 October 2011

statesman news service
KOLKATA, 30 OCT: The CPI-M general secretary, Mr Prakash Karat, wants a revamped West Bengal state unit of the party before the upcoming Party Congress scheduled to be held in Kozhikode in Kerala, next April.
Getting a clear message from the CPI-M general secretary and also from the state unit brass about inducting and promoting new faces at all levels of the organisation, Mr Jiban Maitra and Mr Manik Sanyal, secretaries of Malda and Jalpaiguri district units respectively, offered to quit ranks, amid former land and land reforms minister Mr Abdur Rezzak Mollah's strong advocacy for a thorough change of leadership in the state party and several state committee members raising questions on former chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's prolonged absence form successive Politburo meetings.
Taking part in the party's two-day state committee meeting, which began today in the Alimuddin Street, CPI-M state headquarters and stressing on the immediate need of re-jigging the party's state and ancillary units in the districts, Mr Karat said, the party has to re-focus politically, ideologically and organisationally after going out of power from the state. "Corruption of the highest order has plagued all levels of the UPA-II government at the Centre and there is widespread resentment against this government for its failure to curb price-rise.Price of fertilisers is going up by the day and farmers are not getting good prices for their produce. The situation is very grave and our party workers have to reach out to the people more and highlight the common man's plights. We have to come out of this hangover of being in power and focus more on the ideological aspects of the party and reach out to the people at the grassroots level," said Mr Karat, addressing the state committee members.
Party's state secretary Mr Biman Bose, in his initial comments in the meeting, placed a guideline for the district secretaries, which has to be followed while conducting organisational-level conferences.
"New and fresh faces have to be promoted more through these conferences as this would be right time to churn out new leaders in the district who have real organisational skills and political acumen. People who are aged and are physically unfit should gradually create space for the future generation. Moreover, stress should be laid on adequate women's representation in all levels of the organisation, in the districts," said Mr Bose.
"Apart from making the base of the party ideologically strong, we have to totally shun any tendencies or inclinations towards individual preferences during nominating delegates and revamping the local, zonal and district committees during the conferences. Excellent organisational skills, continuous touch with the people and wide acceptance should only be the criteria," added Mr Bose. Members, especially from Bankura, Burdwan, Hooghly and East Midnapore raised strong apprehensions on successfully holding conferences at all levels in the districts.