CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury asserted that verbal opposition is not enough to tackle BJP. He also said that the BJP has to be dealt with alternative policies and that is what the Left front wants to do. He accused the central government led by BJP and the state government led by TMC of trying to turn the upcoming West Bengal polls into a bipolar event between them. He also stated that there is difference between the stated intent and the deeds of the TMC-led state government.

The two-day state committee meeting of the CPM has started on Sunday at Alimuddin Street, Kolkata. There, the party’s state secretary Suryakanta Mishra said that the secular forces, including the Congress, had reached an understanding on the basis of programmes against the central and state governments. He added that this movement needs to be strengthened. He also admitted that there was some delay in the alliance process.

Also see: Trilateral fight in West Bengal election 2021

The district representatives (CPM) gave their report at the meeting on how the programme to counter BJP and TMC is progressing in the districts. At the end of the first day’s meeting, Yechury explained on the occasion of the founding day of the party’s Bengali mouthpiece at Promod Dasgupta Bhaban that if the BJP is to be pushed hard in the country, it is necessary to stop them in West Bengal.

“In Bihar, the grand alliance (almost) lost to the NDA,” Yechury said. He added that some observers ask why there will not be a grand alliance (against BJP) in Bengal. But the situation, he added, varies from state to state. On the remote possibility of a grand alliance against the BJP, Yechury stated, “What has happened in Bihar is not possible in Bengal. In politics, two and two always do not make four, it can even be zero. “

Calling for the defeat of the BJP in all elections including the upcoming election in Bengal, the CPM general secretary said, “The goal of the RSS since 1925 is to create a fascist, Hindutva state. That is the goal they are pursuing now. There is no comparison of others with BJP-RSS combine.”

“It will be the fullest effort of both the BJP and the TMC to turn the West Bengal elections into a bipolar event,” Yechurry said at a programme at Kolkata to mark the 54th anniversary of Ganashakti, CPI(M)’s mouthpiece in West Bengal.

Also see: Battleground of Bengal election 2021

“Alternate policies are required if they (BJP) are to be defeated politically,” Yechury said. He claimed that the main issues of people’s sufferings during the lockdown, joblessness, and economic distress are being deliberately shrouded by the Trinamool Congress and the saffron party to keep other parties at bay.

He said that the TMC in West Bengal is facing anti-incumbency and the displeasure of the people. He also said that an atmosphere of violence and hatred has been created in the state.

He accused both the saffron party and the Mamata Banerjee-led ruling party in the state of not providing succour to the people during difficult economic situation precipitated by the Covid19 pandemic. Yechury said that just as the BJP at the Centre has brought farm laws against the peasants’ interests, the TMC government is also not giving the declared minimum support price for paddy to the farmers.

He said that it is the Left parties that are agitating against the new farm laws in the farmers’ protests and against the amended labour laws in the country.

Yechury alleged that the goal of the BJP and the RSS is to destroy the constitution of the country and to create a fascist, fundamentalist, and Hindu nation. He claimed that the new symbols of this goal are Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the new Parliament building, signifying a new India of their making. The CPM General Secretary said that in order to maintain a democratic and secular system, it is essential and imperative to keep the BJP away from power and defeat it in the elections.