It seems the CPI(M) in West Bengal has started applying the Modi formula. Twenty senior members, led by former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, have withdrawn from the party's state committee on Thursday. Buddhadeb was a politburo member who, during the last party Congress, had asked the party to relieve him from the politburo and the central committee.
This time he has also retired from the CPI(M)’s state committee and state secretariat.
Party’s state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra, who was renominated to the post for the second time, had proposed an age limit for party leaders to hold various posts. Mishra asked party members to set aside their candidatures from the state committee to pave way for young blood to come in.
Buddhadeb was the first to listen to him. He was ailing and attended this committee meet with oxygen tube inserted into his nostril. He was taken to the meeting by one of his companions. However, he was retained as a special invitee at the state committee.
Like Buddhadeb, leaders like Nirpuam Sen, Shayamal Chakraborty, Madan Ghosh, Basudeb Achaaria and Kanti Ganguly was also replaced by young blood of the party.
The exception was Biman Bose. Bose has recently crossed 75 but party leaders felt he was still active and physically efficient in the party work. Bose recently participated in many demonstrations and leaders feel he still has more to give to party.
However, it was not known whether Chakraborty, Ghosh and Acharia are still the members of the central committee.
“It’s not true that elders have been forgotten. They would give us advice from outside the committee. They are still party members and their advice would be valuable always,” said Mishra.
Both Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechudi attended the 25th state committee meet held in Kolkata.