Kolkata: For the first time after sharing stage with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi at Park Circus Maidan in April, former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will address party workers on Tuesday on the completion of 50 years of CPI(M)’s mouthpiece Ganashakti.
The ailing CPI(M) stalwart, who has stayed away from the party since his last public appearance, has finally agreed to speak on the issues concerning the country and West Bengal.
In an unprecedented political event, Mr Bhattacharjee had shared dais with Mr Gandhi on April 27 before the Assembly elections in 2016.
He was the architect behind the electoral alliance between Left Front and Congress ahead of the polls, although his efforts failed to register any impact as the CPI(M) suffered its worst electoral defeat in the state in the past 40 years, managing to win only 26 seats as against its alliance partner’s 44.
Since then, the party failed to organise itself against a rejuvenated Trinamul Congress. Its decision to call a 12-hour strike to protest the demonetisation move faced backlash, prompting the party to admit it was a “hasty decision”. CPI(M) leaders admit the present leadership lacks charisma but the popularity of Mr Bhattacharjee remains intact. “His presence is required to rejuvenate the party at this crucial juncture. Workers are eager to listen to him,” said a CPI(M) state committee member.
