Bengal: CPI(M) Gradually Gaining Ground, 400 TMC Workers Join Party in Cooch Behar

The CPI(M) received a boost in West Bengal with 400 Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters joining the party in Cooch Behar’s Balabhut area, in Tufanganj, on April 16.

The CPI(M), which has no Lok Sabha or Assembly seat in Cooch Behar, claimed to have become stronger in Balabhut after TMC Panchayat member Mizanur Rahman of Booth No. 247 along with his followers joined it alleging corruption. 

“I resigned from the Panchayat after quitting the party three months ago. Four hundred of us joined the CPI(M),” Rahman said. He also claimed that Left candidates would win in all 16 booths of Balabhut Gram Panchayat in the upcoming election.

Cooch Behar’s politics has witnessed significant changes in the past several years with many heavyweights switching parties, allegations of corruption, and factionalism in both TMC and BJP.

Several people said that the BJP’s influence in the district—from Dinhata to Tufanganj and Jamaldah to Changrabandha—has decreased significantly compared to the last few years. The party won nine seats in the previous Assembly election and the TMC three.

The CPI(M), which drew a blank in the election, is gaining support with many people attending its rallies and public meetings.

According to state data, the district’s total number of job cards is 6.61 lakh (5.77 active) and the total number of workers is 12.55 lakh (8.93 active). It shows that people haven’t been employed for the mandatory 100 days. Besides, workers decreased by 3.62 lakh and job cards by 84,000 in the last 100 days of employment.

According to official data, only 7.32 lakh labour days were created in the 2022–23 financial year compared to 244.06 lakh in the 2021–22 fiscal. Only 19.08 days of work per household were provided in Cooch Behar as of March 11, 2023. The outstanding wages for 100 days are allegedly more than Rs 100 crore.

The total number of Gram Panchayats in Cooch Behar’s 12 blocks, comprising 1,206 villages, is 128. The number of Zilla Parishad seats is 34. According to official data, there are 15 Gram Panchayats in Cooch Behar-1, 13 in Cooch Behar-2, 6 in Haldibari, 10 each in Mathabhanga 1 and 2, 8 in Mekhliganj, 16 in Dinhata-1, 12 in Dinhata-2, 14 and 11 in Tufanganj 1 and 2, 5 in Sitai, and 8 in Shitalakuchi block.

Regarding the district’s situation, CPI(M) Cooch Behar secretary Ananta Roy told People’s Reporter that “the TMC didn’t allow fair voting in the last Panchayat election, but we won a few seats. Even though the Panchayat election has not been announced, we have started preparing”. 

“A district committee has already been formed. Out of 2,470 booth committees, 1,600 have been constituted. Besides, Left Front Committees have been formed at the Gram Panchayat level. Candidates will be decided based on the strength of allies in Zilla Parishads,” he said. 

The CPI(M) has also decided not to nominate people who want to join it after changing parties at the last moment. 

“Change is evident with the hatred towards the Trinamool increasing. Though the BJP has not held many public rallies, it has a good ground network because of the RSS. But if people trust us, propaganda will not work,” Roy added.

Kaushik Roy, from Dinhata, is a long-time Left activist. “The Panchayat polls in 2018 and 2023 will not be the same. People are more aware now. The Left has strengthened its position in Cooch Behar. The message of resistance is spreading from village to village,” he said.