Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, February 26, 2025, Kolkata : The 27th state committee meeting of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM] concluded recently, with Mohammad Selim being reappointed as the state secretary. The meeting, which saw the inclusion of 14 women in the new committee, made significant decisions, although there were no major surprises. Notably, the meeting raised several key issues concerning the party’s performance and future direction.
Questions were raised about the CPM’s declining voter share in the Main Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Party members discussed the reasons behind this decline, asking why Mamata Banerjee’s vote share continues to rise, while Left votes seem to be shifting towards the BJP. These issues were at the center of intense discussions during the conference.
The reappointment of Mohammad Selim as state secretary had long been expected, and it was confirmed at the meeting. Under his leadership, the CPM will again contest the 2026 Assembly elections. The state conference, which began on February 22 in Dankuni, concluded on Tuesday. The conference also saw the induction of 11 new members into the state committee, including Hooghly trade union leader Tirthankar Roy.
While the conference was hailed as a success, it did not go without controversy. Several veteran leaders, including Sushant Ghosh, senior Bankura leader Amiya Patra, Vikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, and North Bengal CPM leader Jeevesh Sarkar, were removed from the state committee. This move surprised many within the party.
Sushant Ghosh’s removal follows a controversy involving a woman’s complaint, after which the party distanced itself from him. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Amiya Patra’s exclusion was due to his age, as he has now been made a special invitee member. Vikas Bhattacharya was also removed from the state committee for the same reason. There were also speculations that Kaltan Dasgupta might be included in the state committee this time. However, he was not kept, as it is believed that his arrest during a movement over the RG tax case tarnished the party’s image.
The reshuffle reflects ongoing tensions within the CPM, particularly with factions that have shown resistance to the party’s leadership and strategies. The CPM will now look to rebuild its base under Selim’s leadership as it prepares for the upcoming elections in a changing political landscape.
