A blamegame has started within the Left as the Marxist citadel finally fell at the hands of its arch rival Trinamul Congress on Friday. The CPI(M) central leadership pinned the blame on the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee-led Left Front government saying that the “mistakes’’ committed in Nandigram and Singur and other “local’’ factors led to the
loss of confidence of people. On the other hand, the CPI(M)’s allies like the CPI and Forward Bloc accused the major Left Party of high-handedness in its functioning and decision-making in the state.
CPI(M) general secretary, Prakash Karat, whose decision to withdraw support from the UPA-I on the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2008 and efforts to cobble up a “Third Front’’ in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls have come under sharp attack by a section of Left leaders both in New Delhi and Bengal, said, “We will have a preliminary discussion in our politburo meeting on May 16.”
He said he will answer questions on the poll performance of his party after that meeting. While the CPI(M) central leadership rode on a wave of relief, thanks to the LDF’s tough fight against the UDF in Kerala, there was no word of praise for Kerala chief minister and ousted politburo member V.S. Achuthanandan. A senior leader, who refused to be named, said that it is Mr Achuthanandan’s popularity and good governance which has come as a face-saver for the party which tried to deny him a ticket in the Assembly elections.