CPI-M Unveils New 80-Member West Bengal Committee; Md Salim Re-elected as State Secretary
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Synopsis
The CPI-M has revealed a new 80-member state committee for West Bengal at its 27th state conference, with Md Salim re-elected as state Secretary for another term. This committee includes 14 women and 11 newcomers, while some senior leaders have been dropped.
Key Takeaways
- Md Salim re-elected as state Secretary.
- New committee comprises 80 members, including 14 women.
- Sushanta Ghosh and other senior leaders were excluded.
- Committee preparation aimed at 2026 Assembly elections.
- Focus on maintaining an independent political line.
Kolkata, Feb 25 (NationPress) The CPI-M concluded its 27th state conference on Tuesday by announcing a newly formed 80-member state committee for West Bengal, with Md Salim, a Politburo member, being unanimously re-elected as state Secretary for a second consecutive term.
This 80-member committee features 14 women, alongside the induction of 11 new members.
Notably, Sushanta Ghosh, the current West Midnapore district secretary and former influential minister, was not only removed from his position but also excluded from the state committee entirely.
Speculation had surrounded Ghosh's future following a complaint lodged against him by a local woman. Consequently, the party leadership had advised him to refrain from engaging in any party activities temporarily.
Despite this, he was initially retained on the state committee, with the leadership opting to delay a final decision until the state conference. Ultimately, when the list of the new committee was unveiled on Tuesday afternoon, Ghosh's name was absent.
In addition to Ghosh, two seasoned party figures, Ashok Bhattacharya and Jibesh Sarkar, were also omitted from the committee due to their age. Bhattacharya had previously served as the Municipal Affairs & Urban Development minister in the former Left Front government.
Furthermore, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, a senior advocate at the Calcutta High Court and Rajya Sabha member, was also excluded from the committee on similar age-related grounds.
As anticipated, the newly formed state committee did not include any representatives from the youth and student factions of the party. Political analysts suggest that, given the upcoming crucial West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026, the leadership opted for a conservative approach in the new committee's composition.
The previous committee convened for its final meeting on Tuesday morning, culminating in the announcement of the new state committee.
Prior to this announcement, a member of the party's Central Committee remarked that the aim was to create a balanced blend of experienced organizational figures and new talent. There was an emphasis on selecting individuals capable of leading grassroots party workers and assuming responsibility during crises.
Political commentators believe the new state committee must prepare for two scenarios: first, contesting the 2026 elections independently, and second, possibly continuing the alliance with Congress, which has been active since the 2016 Assembly elections.
A resolution regarding this matter is expected at the upcoming Party Congress scheduled in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, in April. However, preliminary indications suggest the central leadership may favor the independent contesting route, as reflected in a draft resolution for the forthcoming meeting.
This draft resolution, released in Delhi earlier this month, emphasizes a focus on an independent political trajectory rather than on electoral pacts.
“The party should prioritize independent political campaigns and mass mobilization around its political platform. There should be no compromise on our independent identity or activities in the name of electoral alliances,” the draft political resolution states.
The draft resolution also cautiously addresses the situations in Tripura and West Bengal, where the CPI-M-led Left Front had previously engaged in electoral understandings and seat-sharing arrangements.
