E-Paper
No to division of votes
Though its real strength is limited to only a few pockets in South 24-Parganas, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) has played spoilsport for the ruling Marxist consistently.
Though its real strength is limited to only a few pockets in South 24-Parganas, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) has played spoilsport for the ruling Marxist consistently. In the last panchayat and Lok Sabha polls, SUCI even forged an alliance with Trinamool Congress as part of a bigger anti-Left platform
Despite Trinamool's decision to offer two seats to you in the assembly polls, against your demand for at least 14, you decided not to field candidates against them. Why?
We did not want to divide the Opposition votes and throw a lifeline to the Marxists. Besides South 24-Parganas, we could have won some seats in East Midnapore. But we did not want to divert from our primary target of ousting the Left Front government.
Do you think that after this SUCI can continue to have a cordial relationship with Trinamool?
Our alliance with them had been hanging by a fine string since the day Trinamool decided to become part of the Congress-lead UPA government. From then onwards, Trinamool started showing an aversion towards people's movement. After the party unilaterally announced its list of candidates, that fine string has snapped.
Is there any resentment in your party for not being able to contest in your strongholds?
SUCI is a dedicated revolutionary party with disciplined members who obey the decision of the party and take any assignment set for them. There is absolutely no resentment in the ranks.
If the Trinamool succeeds in forming the next government will you be a part of it?
The question does not arise at all. I do not believe that even if Trinamool comes to power there would be any major qualitative change in the lives and livelihood of the people.
Will your decision to contest against Congress help CPI(M) in a way?
We treat the Congress, CPI(M) and BJP equally and we want to defeat all of them. At the Centre our main movement is against the BJP and Congress and in Bengal, against CPI(M). I have never said that CPI(M) is a bigger enemy than Congress.
