In fact, the Nandigram police firing, in which 14 people died, had prompted the Forward Bloc to demand a greater say for smaller partners in Left Front’s decisions. Ashok Ghosh, the state secretary, rallied the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the CPI to set up an informal grouping dubbed the “mini-Left Front.”

Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee, who has been trying to woo the Forward Bloc away from the Front ever since Nandigram, promptly called up Ghosh to tell him of her party’s support. Last year, Mamata had attended an all-party meeting under Ghosh’s chairmanship even as she shunned Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Ghosh said the party has not been able to identify two of the four killed in police firing. “We are calling a bandh against police barbarism,” he said alleging that the police had opened fire without any provocation.

Sources said Ashok Ghosh and Biman Bose got into an argument, with the CPM leader pointing out that government vehicles had been set on fire by protestors before the police opened fire. Ghosh later told reporters: “I told Biman Bose not to spread lies and untruths.” The Chief Minister was not available for comment as he left Writers’ Buildings at 1.30 pm and was scheduled to fly to Delhi to attend a meeting called by the Planning Commission. A defensive CPI(M) issued an official statement saying that the police had been attacked and police vehicles set on fire. “Police opened fire — and sadly, four people died,” the CPM said.

... contd.