Big CPM rallies target TMC, BJP

Exactly a month after being heckled and pushed allegedly by ruling Trinamul Congress workers in West Midnapore’s Narayangarh, CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Surjyakanta Mishra Sunday gave a call to its cadres to go all out to make the December 27 brigade rally a huge success.

In a bid to garner support for its brigade rally and register a massive turnout, the CPI(M) conducted multiple “padyatras” across the city Sunday and lambasted the Mamata Banerjee government for its misrule in Bengal.

“Our slogan is TMC hatao Bangla bachao, BJP hatao, desh bachao (remove TMC and save Bengal, remove BJP and save the country). There has been an attack on democracy, secularism and people’s livelihoods under the Trinamul Congress rule. We have to make the brigade rally a huge success and take a pledge to fight the upcoming battle,” said Mr Mishra, who was leading a rally from Chiria More to Park Circus.

Mr Mishra was heckled and pushed allegedly by TMC supporters when he was leading a party rally in West Midnapore’s Narayangarh.

Even a month back, the CPI(M) looked jittery but after the success of similar rallies across the state, the party leadership has managed to infuse confidence among the cadres.

The turnout in Sunday’s rallies bore testament to this fact.

“The state government has failed to usher in development. In the last four-and-a-half years, only individuals have benefited from this government,” said CPI(M) politburo member Biman Bose.

The ruling party cannot even show respect to actresses. It shows how fragile the party has become,” said CPI(M) politburo member Biman Bose at the conclusion of one such rally which he led from Garia More to Park Circus. The CPI(M) leaders slammed the ruling party for its involvement in the Saradha chit fund scam, launching attacks on Left workers and registering false cases against them.

“This is our preparatory measure before the party plenum which will be held in the city from December 27 to 31. Our workers will hold rallies, public meetings, road shows and street corner meetings on the next three days to reach out to the people across 77,247 booths in the state,” senior CPI(M) leader Rabin Deb said.

Similarly, two rallies were taken out from Silpara in Behala and Kidderpore which concluded in Taratala. A small rally was also taken out from Garden Reach to Fatehpur Bazar.

For CPI(M) leadership, the brigade rally is an ideal platform to reach out to its cadres and rejuvenate them after a series of electoral debacles. It was apparent from this move that the party wanted to galvanise the demoralised workers and strengthen the party organisation ahead of the crucial electoral battle in 2016.