CPI(M) faces internal rift as leaders withdraw from South 24 Parganas panel

CPI(M) is facing significant internal division following the withdrawal of several key leaders from the South 24 Parganas district committee panel. The issue came to light during the first day of the CPI(M) state committee conference, where district secretary Ratan Bagchi accused a faction within the party of engaging in factional politics. He stated that 18 names were removed from the district committee panel, attributing this move to divisive activities within the party. Bagchi urged for disciplinary action against those who had withdrawn their names.

The conflict primarily revolves around the exclusion of younger leaders from important positions within the district committee. Prominent party figures such as Mili Chakraborty, the wife of Sujan Chakraborty, Khokon Ghosh Dastidar, former Kulatali MLA Ramshankar Haldar, and state committee member Rahul Ghosh are among those who withdrew their names. These leaders expressed concerns over the perceived sidelining of younger members in favor of senior leadership within the district. Most of those who withdrew are known to have close ties with Sujan Chakraborty, a prominent figure within the CPI(M) leadership.

Tushar Ghosh, a leader aligned with the district’s ruling faction, also raised his voice at the meeting, asserting that the actions of the dissenting leaders had been backed by a section of the leadership. The withdrawal of names and the public accusations point to growing factionalism within the CPI(M) in South 24 Parganas. This district has traditionally been a stronghold for the party, and the ongoing dispute signals a potential shift in the internal dynamics of the party. How the state leadership addresses these issues will be critical for the party's future in the region.