At a time when both the Left and the Congress are facing an existential crisis with both the groups jointly accounting for not more than 13 per cent votes in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, the Congress on Monday hosted the Marxist leaders in a small tea party.
The event marked a watershed for Bengal politics ahead of 2021 Assembly elections even as the Marxists entering for the first time in the history of Left politics at the Pradesh Congress headquarters said experts even as the Left leaders said “at times the political parties have to respond to extraordinary situations.”
Senior Left leaders from the four larger parties CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP met with PCC president Somen Mitra and other senior leaders like Pradip Bhattacharya, sources said.
When asked to comment on the sudden development CPI(M) politburo member Biman Bose said “we were invited by the PCC leadership to an exhibition on Gandhi Jayanti and so we have come here.” When asked whether it was a prelude to a future Left-Congress alliance, he said “no one can predict what will happen in the future.”
However, Bloc leader Naren Dey was more forthright saying “there are times when political parties have to respond to extraordinary situations. This could be one of those situation.” Another leader said “sometimes you have to sink political differences for the people’s cause.”
Mitra on the other hand said “we welcome this move of t he Left leaders and I hope this will provide opportunity for future cooperations.”
Among those who visited the Congress office were CPI(M) State secretary Suryakanto Mishra, his politburo colleague Biman Bose, Bloc leader Naren Dey and RSP leader Kshiti Goswami.