CPI (M) leader joins TMC

An extremely powerful and well-networked local leader of North 24 Paraganas District has left the Communist Party of India-Marxist CPI (M) to join the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The leader — Tapas Chatterjee — was elected to CPI (M)’s North 24 District Committee thrice and earlier headed the municipal body in the district, adjacent to Kolkata.

Another half dozen members of CPI (M)’s local committees and few thousand supporters have also deserted the CPI (M) to join the TMC with Mr Chatterjee. In a press note, the CPI (M) North 24 District Committee has said that Mr Chatterjee has “betrayed” the party.

Tapas Chatterjee is an old warhorse of the CPI (M). He has steered the party in parts of North 24 Paraganas for decades and ensured victory in many elections. Moreover, considered as one of CPI (M)’s “money bags” for his clout over the syndicates, which supply construction materials in the Rajarhat townships, Mr Chatterjee has developed a strong cadre base in the area, located on the south-eastern fringe of Kolkata.

According to CPI (M)’s district leaders, Mr Chatterjee was working closely with some of the TMC leaders to run “his interest in the syndicate business” while being a District Committee member of the party.

“While in the party, he was in touch with the TMC. He has betrayed the party,” said CPI (M)’s District Secretary Gautam Deb in a press statement. The statement further said that Mr Chatterjee’s association with the TMC was “regular and deep.”

However, TMC’s decision to induct Tapas Chatterjee has irked a section of Trinamool cadres.

The anger against Chatterjee was so deep that on Wednesday a section of the TMC brought a rally with a banner that read: “Trinamool basher Tapas Chatterjee cannot be inducted into the TMC.” A section of TMC leaders are feeling that continuous induction of CPI (M)’s middle level leaders in the party will sideline the old rank and file of the TMC who deserted Congress to join the TMC one and half decade ago.

But then again, it is not reducing the growing woes of the CPI (M). Only a few weeks after the party chief Surjya Kanta Mishra said that the party has managed to “stem the decline” the leaders and the cadres are leaving the Communist party in dozens. Political observers believe that such desertion will gain momentum as 2016 Assembly election gets closer. CPI (M) desperately needs to plug these desertions to actually “stem the decline.”