Basu's appeal to Congress supporters dismissed by opposition

Kolkata, Nov 2: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday strongly defended its veteran leader Jyoti Basu's appeal to Congress supporters to vote for West Bengal's ruling Left Front candidates in the coming bypolls to 10 assembly seats.

However, the state's opposition parties scoffed at Basu's plea. While main opposition Trinamool Congress dubbed it as something "non-serious", the Congress rejected the appeal.

"Jyotibabu is a respectable person. But we cannot accept his appeal to Congress workers and supporters. We have rejected it," state Congress working president Pradip Bhattacharya told IANS.

"Every party goes by its own political decisions. In this state, we have taken a political decision based on the local objective condition to align with the Trinamool Congress and the alliance has come out with spectacular success so far. We will continue our alliance," Bhattacharya said.

"At the same time, it is our political decision to oppose the CPI-M," he added.

On Basu seeking reciprocity for Left's support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government between 2004 and 2008, Bhattacharya said it was the CPI-M's political decision then.

"But you will appreciate that we have not taken a political decision to support the Communists."

"And moreover, it was a compulsion on their part to support the UPA. That was the only choice before them to prove their secular credentials".

Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee was highly dismissive of Basu's appeal.

"It is something non-serious. Such things are being done to dilute the seriousness of politics. And in view of the serious political situation in the state where our party workers are being butchered by the CPI-M, I don't consider his comment important enough to even react to. There are other pressing political problems and issues".

Banerjee said she respected Basu's age. "He is no more in active politics. They (the CPI-M) have made him issue the statement. But otherwise, they don't give him any weightage. His medical treatment is also neglected."

However, describing Basu as a "father figure", CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechury told mediapersons that the nonagenarian has put forth some important suggestions.

On the Congress turning down Basu's appeal, he said: "That is up to them. But whatever he has said is in national interest and no one can ignore that".

Citing the Left's 'unconditional' support to the UPA government, Basu Sunday made an impassioned plea to the Congress supporters to support the Left Front in the Nov 7 bypolls.

"Today, when the state is in danger, I specially request them to come forward and support the Left candidates to maintain peace, discipline and development," he said in the signed statement, which is being interpreted as yet another attempt by the Marxists to drive wedge between the Congress and Trinamool.

Accusing the Trinamool and the Maoists of being hand-in-glove in perpetrating violence to endanger democracy in the state, Basu said it was time for all to come forward and support the Left for the sake of peace and development.

The appeal from the ailing leader came when the CPI-M led Left Front is passing though the worst phase of its 32-year unbroken reign.

In the last Lok Sabha elections, the Congress-Trinamool combine decimated the Left Front by winning 25 of the total 42 seats. Trinamool's alliance member Socialist Unity Centre of India bagged one seat, while the ruling coalition parties got only 15. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also secured one seat.

The opposition juggernaut has rolled on even after their Lok Sabha success, as they carved out spectacular wins in assembly by-elections and local body polls, raising serious questions about the Left Front's fortunes in the 2011 assembly elections.

--IANS