Expelled CPM leader floats new party ahead of polls

Expelled CPM leader floats new party ahead of polls
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

KOLKATA, FEB 21: Expelled CPI(M) leader Saifuddin Chowdhury today launched his much-awaited `Party for Democratic Socialism' (PDS) with a number of dissident Marxist leaders to provide a Left democratic, secular alternative in the ensuing state Assembly elections.

A number of rebel CPI(M) leaders, including party's former South 24-Parganas district secretary Samir Putatunda who resigned on Monday and two sitting MLAs -- Tapati Saha and Mojammel Haque joined the new party floated at a political convention.

Chowdhury, a former CPI(M) MP, was elected PDS president and Putatunda its general secretary. A nine-member Presidium and 11-member Steering Committee were elected at the convention. A 58-member state committee was also formed, but only 47 names were cleared in the convention.

Explaining the rationale of forming a new party, Chowdhury said that it had become impossible to work for the people within the CPI(M) which pursued wrong policies on various issues, besides stifling the voice of dissidence.

Moving the PDS' draft resolution, Putatunda said that they were against any polarisation between the `official left' and the `right, reactionary' parties ''as it would only lead the state towards a disastrous situation.''

``The desparate attempt by the CPI(M)-led ruling Left Front to cling on to power on the one hand and (Trinamool Congress-BJP combine's) attempt to grab power by hook or crook is putting the common man in peril,'' he said.

Assessing the 24-year Left Front rule in the state, he said that despite its initial success in the areas of land reforms, Panchayeti Raj and decentralisation of power, ruling Front failed to inspire the new generation `in creating a new Bengal.'

``Coupled with political violence, the law and order situation has deteriorated. Anti-social trends are also on the rise,'' Putatunda said.

On the other hand, the BJP-led NDA government was pushing the country towards disaster and as its representative the Trinamool-BJP combine was trying to capture power in the state capitalising on the weaknesses of the Left Front government.

The new party would try to provide a third alternative, which would shun violence and terror to protect secularism and democracy.

Asked how many seats the party would contest in coming Assembly polls, Chowdhury said that the process was on to assess their strength, but added that the PDS might enter into a seat adjustment with the Congress.

Chowdhury said he had a talk the AICC general secretaryin charge of West Bengal Kamal Nath in this regard this morning. Further talks on the matter would be held later.