The Hindu : National : Congress grapples with contradiction in allying with Left

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004

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National

Congress grapples with contradiction in allying with Left

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 5. The contradictions in allying with the Left — against which it is in direct contest in three States — and the approaching reality of an Assembly election in West Bengal in less than two years has forced the Congress to draw up a strategy that is aimed at equipping its workers in the State at the grassroots level with the necessary ammunition to deal with the new political equation at the Centre.

To keep its West Bengal unit "alive and kicking'', the Congress has decided to borrow a leaf from the Left and deal directly with grassroots leaders instead of organising the more traditional workshops with the State leadership. And, the message that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of the State, Salman Khursheed, has for the workers — grappling with the contradiction in having to fight a force which is in alliance with its central leadership — is that the relationship at the Centre is one of "inter-dependence'' and not dependence on the Left as is often made out.

National interest

"If they are giving us the numbers, they are in turn getting a voice in the corridors of power in Delhi. We believe that the relationship we have with the Left at the Centre is in national interest. It is a common objective and a convergence of priorities — and not power — which brought us together. So also, it is in the interest of democracy that we fight each other in the State,'' Mr. Khursheed told mediapersons here today; adding for good measure that the Left in West Bengal would get rusted if the Congress did not give it a run for its money.

Just back from a familiarisation tour of West Bengal, Mr. Khursheed was generous with details about the party's strategy for joining issue with the Left. "We want to engage them in a debate on various issues and will bring out booklets challenging the West Bengal Government's performance on five counts in the past 27 years.'' The subjects that have been identified for the exercise are the Left Front Government's handling of panchayati raj institutions, land reforms, industry and agriculture, and law and order. Also, the Congress will seek replies from the State Government on the 11,000 political workers who have died at the hands of Left activists.

While the booklets will take another month to be finalised and will be circulated at the district level after Ramzaan, the Congress central leadership hopes to cash in on the festival season. Mr. Khursheed plans to tour the State extensively during the festive season — visiting various pujas — and will probably be accompanied by the Pradesh Congress Committee president, Pranab Mukherjee, in what is being billed as the "vigorous social interaction'' phase of the three-part strategy to mobilise the State unit.

Even as the Congress sought to project clarity on its strategy vis-à-vis the Left in West Bengal, Mr. Khursheed was non-committal on the possibility of the Trinamool Congress leader, Mamata Banerjee, returning to the party fold. But he conceded that there was a strong demand within the State unit for uniting the Congress vote that was split with her parting ways with the party.

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