CPM replaces tainted leaders

11 October 2011

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 11 OCT: In a bid to reorganising the party in West Midnapore, especially in the Maoist-hit areas, the CPI-M has started filling up vacant posts of leaders who have either been arrested or fled fearing Maoist attack. 
The CPI-M has already selected secretaries of Lalgarh local committee and Binpur zonal committee in place of those who have either been chargesheeted in Netai carnage or fled the area fearing attack on them. “We will have to start party activities in the area soon. And it is not possible if the leaders are absent. So we decided to replace the leaders," said a senior district committee member of the party. After the CBI submitted a charge-sheet against several CPI-M leaders in connection with the Netai massacre, the party has begun to remove the accused leaders from party posts.
The CPI-M called an urgent district secretariat meeting to find out suitable candidates for the posts. The party will also chalk out a strategy to counter attack on party activists by Trinamul Congress supporters in Junglemahal. The CBI has filed a charge-sheet against 20 CPI-M leaders, including several local and zonal committee secretaries. Of the 20 accused, eight senior leaders are still at large. According to a CPI-M leader, the party has felt the need of replacing the leaders to keep a safe distance from the Netai carnage, particularly ahead of the truce between the state government and Maoists. The situation would turn more critical if the accused are arrested while holding the party posts.
“Moreover, as the absconding leaders will not be able to take part in day-to-day activities of the party, it was necessary to replace them to continue the party functioning,” said a CPI-M district committee leader. “We have plans to hold a rally at Midnapore town in the last week of November. Party workers will rejuvenate themselves from the rally and intensify their political movements," a CPI-M district secretariat member said.
The party has felt the need to replace Binpur zonal committee secretary Mr Anuj Pandey, his brother and Dharampur local committee secretary, Mr Dalim Pandey, Belatikri local committee secretary Mr Chandi Karan  immediately to reorganise the party in these areas.
Apart from them, Ms Phullara Mondol, a district committee member and the district president of Ganatantrik Mahila Samiti, Lalgarh local committee secretary Mr Joydev Giri, Lalgarh local committee member Mr Tapan Dey and Binpur zonal committee member Mr Mohammod Khaliluddin will also be replaced, a CPI-M leader said.
The party has for the first time chosen a tribal, Mr Arjun Mandi, for the post of Lalgarh local committee secretary. Mr Mandi was earlier a local committee member in Lalgarh and has replaced Mr Joydev Giri, who has been chargesheeted in the Netai case and is still at large. Mr Sushanta Kundu, a retired headmaster of a high school, has been appointed Binpur zonal committee secretary. Mr Kundu has replaced Mr Anuj Pandey, whose house was pulled down by Maoists in June 2009. “The party will also scrap party membership of those who have already been arrested by investigation agencies,” said a CPI-M insider.