Bengal: CPI(M)’s Mohd Salim Calls for Rooting Out ‘BJP’s Communalism, TMC’s Corruption’

Murshidabad: “If you come here without a car or bike, you will need to walk on the hot sand for miles and then cross a river to reach my village. So, wear footwear accordingly," Giyasuddin Sk, 45, a resident of Nirmal Char village of Bhagwangola-II Block, Murshidabad, advised this reporter. He is a Congress worker, who is nowadays campaigning for Mohd Salim, the CPI(M)’s candidate in the Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal. (The Left Front-Congress are fighting elections in alliance).

Giyasuddin’s suggestion gave a picture of the remoteness of Nirmal Char, which has about 8,000 voters. It rose in the aftermath of river bank erosion. The "Char" is isolated from the mainland by the Padma River.  The riverbed that lies between Nirmal Char and Shibnagar Village of Akhereiganj gram panchayat remains dry most of the time, filled with sand. During the rainy season, the ferry service starts. But the scorching heat this May has made transportation tough.

The voters of Nirmal Char will cast their votes May 7, 2024 to elect both their MP and MLA.

On the other side of the “charland”, the Padma River separates India and Bangladesh. The Border Security Force have outposts on the ‘charland’. 

On May 3, Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Salim reached the remote Nirmal Char and addressed a public meeting organised by local CPI(M) and Congress workers.

Party leaders rarely visit the area. The standing MP, Abu Taher Khan, never came to this ‘charland’ in five years, said Bablu, a resident.

During his election campaign at Nirmal Char, Salim said: "The country is on fire. We must come together irrespective of caste, creed, religion, and even political identity to extinguish the fire and bring back peace." He blamed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for destroying the economy of the country. Salim also attacked Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, saying: "It is Mamata Banerjee who brought BJP to West Bengal. She is their natural ally."

Anju Bengal, the Congress candidate for the bye-election in Bhagabangola Assembly constituency, also addressed the meeting.

Salim talked about his experience as a parliamentarian in raising issues of the people of the borderland and such chars.

Samayun Sk, 67, a CPI(M) worker, told this reporter: “After the 2018 panchayat election, we could not cast our vote till the 2023 panchayat election. The ruling TMC and police disrupted the vote and organised a loot. In the 2023 panchayat election, we fought hard and recovered our voting rights. With that same spirit we will vote on May 7”. Samayun said many people from the ‘charland’ had been framed under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act), popularly known as the “Pandi Case” by the police when they “refused to join TMC”.  He himself was in jail for seven months. His friend, Umar Molla of Congress, agreed with him.

Both the parties – CPI(M) and Congress –jointly formed the board at the Akheriganj Gram Panchayat after the 2023 elections. Now the challenge for Left and Congress workers is securing the booths from being captured.

On Friday, Salim called upon local workers and supporters to protect their own polling stations from goons.

All Set for Polling in 3rd Phase

The third phase of election in West Bengal is set to witness a tough fight between the Left-Congress alliance, TMC, and BJP. On May 7, the third phase will cover North Malda, South Malda, Jangipur and Murshidabad seats. Bye-election for Bhagawangola Assembly Constituency has also been scheduled on the same day.

In Murshidabad, CPI(M)’s West Bengal state secretary and party’s polit bureau member, Salim, is contesting with support from Congress. West Bengal state president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has filed his nomination from his conventional seat, Berhampore. The CPI(M) and the Left Front are supporting him. Berhampore goes to polls on May 13.

The Left Front, consisting of CPI(M), Communist Party of India, Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc, are all supporting Congress candidates from Malda Uttar (South Malda) Alam Mostaque, Malda Dakshin (South Malda) candidate Isha Khan, and Murtoja Hossain Bokul from Jangipur. From Bhagawangola in the Assembly bypolls, Anju Begum of Congress is in the fray.

Salim’s election campaign in Murshidabad is focusing on issues like work, wages, water, and women’s health. He has been appealing to the public to come together and counter communalisation. Congress leader Chowdhury and Salim also addressed joint public meetings in Domkal, Lalgola, and Bhagabangola. At the ground level, workers of both parties are said to be campaigning together in support of the candidates.

In Murshidabad, Abu Taher Khan of TMC and Gouri Shankar Ghosh of BJP are pitted against Salim. In the 2019 general election, Khan had defeated CPI(M)’s Badaruddoza Khan. But now people are questioning his performance as a parliamentarian.

Srikanta Mondal, a school teacher in Bagabangola said: “After becoming an MP, Abu Taher Khan never visited our villages. He did nothing for the development of Murshidabad”.

People of Murshidabad are raising serious issues like scarcity of jobs, growing number of migrant workers, scarcity of purified drinking water and high rates of child marriage and teenage pregnancy.

The BJP is focusing on Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration as the central theme of its political campaign, while TMC leaders are focusing on schemes by the West Bengal government.

In its campaign, the CPI(M) has been focusing on allegations of corruption in teacher recruitment and other government sectors. The party’s campaign has been using a tableau designed with demands  -- for work and guarantee of minimum wages, safe drinking water and health infrastructure for women.

CPI(M) Murshidabad district secretary Zamir Molla told this reporter: “We are focusing on defeating both BJP and TMC. The understanding between these two parties is clear to the public.”

Akbar Hossain, another CPI(M) leader, said: “Public can see how TMC men are making money using their political power. And how BJP’s hate politics is dividing the society. We hope people will vote against corruption and communalisation”.

According to Akbar, the joint movement by local CPI(M) and Congress workers is adding momentum to the campaign process.

Addressing a meeting in Domkal on April 27, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urged party workers to “work heart and soul” in support of Mohd Salim.

“The fight is against BJP and TMC”, he said, attacking the BJP government’s policies at the Centre as well.

The writer is  Bengali daily Ganashakti 's correspondent in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.