The CPI-M’s internal churn over former student leader Pratikur Rahaman has now widened, with fresh speculation surrounding the political future of leader Dipsita Dhar. Sources in the party said that till Thursday afternoon, Dhar had not renewed her primary membership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). According to the party constitution, membership renewal takes place annually between 1 January and 31 March.
In most cases, renewal of general members is completed by January and subsequently sent to the district level for approval. In the CPI-M’s organisational structure, several leaders hold membership at different tiers, including what is known in party parlance as “party centre membership”. Such renewals are generally completed by the first week of February. However, despite being mid-February, Dhar’s membership renewal remains pending. Party insiders pointed out that her primary membership is not registered in West Bengal but in Delhi, dating back to her student days at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where she was politically active. The development comes at a time when the party is grappling with dissent triggered by Pratikur Rahaman’s allegations of favouritism and internal bias.
Several youth leaders have echoed his concerns, questioning why certain leaders, described by Rahaman as “pyarelal” figures, appear to receive preferential treatment, including early opportunities to build constituency-level connections ahead of elections. The CPI-M traditionally does not announce candidates well in advance of elections, maintaining that organisational work must continue throughout the year irrespective of electoral prospects. However, critics within the party argue that once candidates are declared, they are often left with limited time to familiarise themselves with constituencies, while others allegedly enjoy an informal head start. The issue has sparked heated exchanges within party circles, particularly in the run-up to the Assembly polls.
Sources indicated that several youth leaders have already conveyed their grievances to local leadership. There is also discontent among those who contested the last Lok Sabha elections but were not assigned sustained programmes in their respective constituencies thereafter. According to a section of young leaders, this has eroded their credibility among voters. The unfolding situation has revived memories of earlier internal strains.
A few years ago, Ajanta Biswas, daughter of former state secretary Anil Biswas, had quit the party following her suspension over an article in a Trinamul Congress mouthpiece praising Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s role in the women’s movement. Though the context was different, party observers see parallels in the growing unease among sections of the leadership. Senior CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty sought to downplay the controversy. “Our workers stand by the people throughout the year ~ whether during the Insaf Yatra, Bangla Bachao Yatra or peasants’ movements. In our party, there is no system of working in advance because one will be a candidate. They work for the party all year round. The party decides candidates after assessing public mood. Only one will contest, but thousands of workers will continue the struggle,” he said. The matter is likely to figure in the upcoming state committee meeting, as the Bengal Left attempts to steady itself ahead of crucial electoral battles.