India's main communist party Sunday denied it was headed for political oblivion after the chief of the world's longest-running elected leftist government in the Indian state of West Bengal retires early next month.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist said the resignation of Jyoti Basu, 87, next week would not affect his party's fortunes in the eastern Indian state he has ruled with an iron hand for 23 years.
"It is not a sudden decision. Basu was keen to step down from the post of chief minister for quite some time for poor health. Everyone knew he is retiring," said CPI-M state secretary Anil Biswas.
"He will be our campaigner in next year's state elections and has assured us to help in running the administration."
Basu has named his long-time heir apparent Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, the deputy chief minister. Bhattacharjee will be sworn in on November 6.
Although Basu's party kept up a brave front, others in his multi-party leftist coalition government, were apprehensive.
Revolutionary Socialist Party leader and public works department minister Kshiti Goswami said Basu was a "master" in coalition politics.
"Basu can never be replaced. He created a history by running a coalition government for the past 23 years."
Political commentators say Basu's hold over West Bengal politics and his stature will be hard to match and could leave the CPI-M seriously handicapped, especially with the rapidly-increasing appeal of a rival party, the Trinamool Congress.
Basu's political foes in West Bengal, including firebrand federal Railways Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who has been trying to oust the government for alleged terror, murder and misrule, said the octogenarian leader was running away from upcoming elections.
"Basu's resignation without seeking the people's mandate is a betrayal of the people of West Bengal," she said.
"The individual is not important for us and we will continue our fight against the CPI-M," she said, adding Basu's rule had left the state economy in a "coma."
The CPI-M, disowned by both Moscow and Beijing, took its firm grip on government in June 1977.
Basu began by launching wide-ranging rural reforms, sharing out land among the countryside's poor.
The policy won him lasting support as the proportion of people below the poverty line dropped from 52 percent to 27 percent over the next 20 years.
His communism was flexible, and when India introduced sweeping market reforms in 1991, Basu was one of the first regional leaders to invite foreign investment into his state.
However, critics point out that the per capita income of the state and its productivity have markedly declined during his years in power. Access to state jobs is usually marked for communist party members.
Noted Bengali writer Buddhadev Guha said Basu had been bad for West Bengal.
"Basu should have resigned a long time back. The state is run on his whims and fancies and the government is Basu-centric.
"The educated middle class to which I belong had always a natural affinity for communism (but) Basu has spoilt that with his arrogance and high-handedness."
Prominent film director Mrinal Sen said Basu's "towering presence" kept in check dissidence within the party, adding that his successor would "find it difficult to deal with ministers and allies who will be more vocal with him.” – CALCUTTA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
