So another issue is rocking the arena of politics in West Bengal. An all party meeting will be convened by the Left front allies to discuss Nandigram. The Left front meeting on 7th of May had authorized the allies like RSP, Forward Bloc and CPI to try and bring the opposition parties like Trinamool Congress to bring to the discussion table. It is being perceived as a step back on the part of the big brother CPIM. In last thirty years it didn’t happen that the CPIM authorized the small partners to lead a political process. Apparently this also shows that the CPIM is really cornered on Nandigram issue within and outside the Left Front. But this is a clever move put forward by the CPIM.
A week ago when a newspaper quoted RSP leader and minister Kshiti Goswami saying a parallel committee led by veteran Forward Bloc leader Ashok Ghosh would have taken initiative to bring back normalcy in Nandigram, the CPIM state secretary and Left Front chairman Biman Bose reacted strongly. He looked at it as a loss of confidence of the allies in him. Today that very CPIM and the LF chairman giving freehand to the Forward Bloc leader to broker a peace deal seems very interesting. And more interesting is Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee’s acceptance of such a proposal.
There were two options before the Left Front government and the CPIM after the administration’s repeated initiatives of all party meetings failed. Either let the governor convene an all party meeting or assign the allies to do the needful. Mamata was ready to participate in the all the party meeting if it was convened by the governor. Later it we saw she was also open to peace talk initiated by the allies.
It is difficult for the government or CPIM to leave it to the governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, who is seen to be very sensitive towards Nandigram issue, to sit with all the parties. That would mean a clear intervention by the central government through its representative, the governor of West Bengal. And moreover the CPIM don’t trust this governor, especially after he released a strongly worded statement on March 14 on the Nandigram carnage.
So they opted for the other choice. And this is, I say it again, is a clever move by the CPIM. First let us look at the long term goal of the CPIM in Nandigram. It is clear, as the experience of Arambagh, Garbeta or Keshpur tell us, that CPIM wants to regain control in Nandigram and they want it back before the next year panchayat elections. They want a full control in the area, would start some flash developmental work, win the panchayat elections through might or right and establish the fact that the people of Nandigram are with them. That would help them build a positive image. They tried to do it on 14th of March. But it boomeranged because of the poor intelligence in the local party level. Though the CPIM is very much in the bcakfoot, it doesn’t mean that they have backtracked from their earlier goal. By hook or crook they want their cadres to enter Nandigram well before the panchayat elections.
At this moment, by giving the allies a freehand, CPIM has built a liberal image. The allies now can’t complain that the ‘big brother’ is not giving importance to its siblings. If any peace formula works out in this meeting convened by the allies led by Ashok Ghosh, that would actually help the CPIM in every way. And if it doesn’t work, the CPIM can put the blame on the allies saying they also can’t broker a peace deal with Mamata and then why blame the big brother!. That would help them reestablish their grip in the LF.
Now everything goes well as far as FB leader Ashok Ghosh’ initiatives are concerned. But Mamata has justifiably raised some questions (or pre requisite) regarding the peace talks led by the allies. Will it remain to be a mere political dialogue or will the decisions be implemented by the government? Will any representatives of the government be present in the meeting? As we have heard Ashok Ghosh, the chief minister has assured (or ‘guaranteed’) him of implementing the decision taken in the all party meeting.
Now for a brief moment, let us see why Mamata has agreed to participate in such initiative. To put it straight, Mamata Banerjee wants to build a positive image. If CPIM can prove (this is what they are trying also) that it is because of Trinamool Congress the peace can’t be brought back in Nandigram, it would cost Trinamool a high price. The sympathy TMC has gained over this issue will gone to vain. And by now everyone knows it is no more a fight to save land but transcended into a political fight. So it is out of compulsion that Mamata agreed to join the all party meeting called by the FB (keep our fingers crossed. She has not joined as yet).
But this meeting is going to be so fallacious! Any all party meeting at the state level would really mean nothing. It is not so easy to percolate the decisions at the grassroot level in Nandigram. Nandigram should not be mistaken as another Keshpur or Garbeta. It would be an understatement if we call it (and CPIM is campaigning) a fight between CPIM and Trinamool Congress. None has seen such kind of mass uprising in WB in last 30 years as we see in Nandigram. And the movement was never and isn’t now also in the sole hands of TMC. Several parties and mass organizations in the name of Bhumi Uchchhed Pratirodh Committee are involved in it and that is why we haven’t seen any political flag in the whole movement in Nandigram. TMC is just a fraction of the movement under BUPC. Would it have been a TMC movement, it wouldn’t be so difficult for the government or the CPIM to invade Nandigram. Since it is not, the government or the CPIM are failing to grip the area as yet.
There is no guarantee if the points agreed at by the TMC in the all party meeting would be adhered to by other parties and mass organizations involved in the Nandigram movement.
And as TMC doesn’t have much stake in the real movement in Nandigram and a process to corner them has already started there, it has been easy for Mamata Banerjee to extend her hands to the allies’ proposals. Let us wait and see if the dialogue comes out to be fruitful or another police action is in the offing in Nandigram.
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