The Crossbill News Desk
In a setback to the Left in West Bengal, former CPI(M) state committee member Pratikur Rahaman formally joined the ruling All India Trinamool Congress on Saturday, days after resigning from the party.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) subsequently expelled him, citing “serious anti-party activities” and accusing him of entering the “enemy camp”.
Rahaman switched sides in the presence of Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, whom he had contested against in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His induction was marked by sharp exchanges between the TMC and the CPI(M), with both sides defending their positions.
Welcoming Rahman into the party fold, Abhishek said, “Many CPI(M) leaders are saying, Pratikur did a deal with us, Pratikur has joined with an MLA ticket. The fact is, Pratikur came to meet me and the first sentence he said, ‘Dada, I don’t want to fight in the Assembly election. I want to do an organisation’. Nowadays, it is rare to find such leaders. He stood against CPI(M) leader’s wrong policy and for that reason, they are attacking him.”
“They are saying they are the only Leftist. Is Mahasweta Devi not Leftist? She certified Mamata Banerjee. Is Amartya Sen not Leftist? He said Mamata Banerjee is a candidate for Prime Minister,” Abhishek said while attacking the CPI(M) leadership.
Responding to questions about accepting a former electoral rival into the party, Abhishek said, “It is Pratikur’s kindness that he showed courage to stand against CPI(M)’s wrong policy and came to meet for talk.”
Speaking to reporters at Abhishek’s Amtala office, Rahaman said he felt suffocated within the Marxist party.
"I only want to fight the onslaught of the BJP's fascism, and believe that only the TMC has the ability to face the challenge of the Hindutva forces who want to divide people," said Rahman.
Reiterating that no promise of candidature had been made, Abhishek said, "I have seen Protikur for a long time; he had even contested against me in 2024. But he is among those young Turks in the Marxist party who are dynamic, principled and have the will to fight against the real danger the country is facing. Our fight is against the BJP,” he said.
Abhishek also targeted the CPI(M) over its stance on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Questioning why the CPI(M)-led Left Front in Kerala was not opposing the SIR exercise, he said only the TMC under Mamata Banerjee had effectively resisted the “hasty implementation” and was "able to take up the issue with the Supreme Court and force the Election Commission to follow its directives."
"The CPI(M) can only be seen on social media. May I ask which ideology allowed the CPI(M) state secretary (Md Salim) to meet Humayun Kabir, while they proclaim they are not doing religion-based politics?" he said.
He added that the party would continue to open its doors to young and committed leaders, citing the examples of Rwitobroto Mukherjee, Sayaani Ghosh and Debangshu Bhattacharya.
“We call upon young people from different parties to come and join us to work for the poor and the people in general," he said.
Rahaman had earlier contested from Diamond Harbour in the 2021 Assembly polls, finishing third behind the TMC and the BJP. Sources indicated that differences between him and the party leadership had surfaced during the South 24 Parganas district conference last year, culminating in his resignation and subsequent switch to the ruling camp.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) subsequently expelled him, citing “serious anti-party activities” and accusing him of entering the “enemy camp”.
Rahaman switched sides in the presence of Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, whom he had contested against in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His induction was marked by sharp exchanges between the TMC and the CPI(M), with both sides defending their positions.
Welcoming Rahman into the party fold, Abhishek said, “Many CPI(M) leaders are saying, Pratikur did a deal with us, Pratikur has joined with an MLA ticket. The fact is, Pratikur came to meet me and the first sentence he said, ‘Dada, I don’t want to fight in the Assembly election. I want to do an organisation’. Nowadays, it is rare to find such leaders. He stood against CPI(M) leader’s wrong policy and for that reason, they are attacking him.”
“They are saying they are the only Leftist. Is Mahasweta Devi not Leftist? She certified Mamata Banerjee. Is Amartya Sen not Leftist? He said Mamata Banerjee is a candidate for Prime Minister,” Abhishek said while attacking the CPI(M) leadership.
Responding to questions about accepting a former electoral rival into the party, Abhishek said, “It is Pratikur’s kindness that he showed courage to stand against CPI(M)’s wrong policy and came to meet for talk.”
Speaking to reporters at Abhishek’s Amtala office, Rahaman said he felt suffocated within the Marxist party.
"I only want to fight the onslaught of the BJP's fascism, and believe that only the TMC has the ability to face the challenge of the Hindutva forces who want to divide people," said Rahman.
Reiterating that no promise of candidature had been made, Abhishek said, "I have seen Protikur for a long time; he had even contested against me in 2024. But he is among those young Turks in the Marxist party who are dynamic, principled and have the will to fight against the real danger the country is facing. Our fight is against the BJP,” he said.
Abhishek also targeted the CPI(M) over its stance on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Questioning why the CPI(M)-led Left Front in Kerala was not opposing the SIR exercise, he said only the TMC under Mamata Banerjee had effectively resisted the “hasty implementation” and was "able to take up the issue with the Supreme Court and force the Election Commission to follow its directives."
"The CPI(M) can only be seen on social media. May I ask which ideology allowed the CPI(M) state secretary (Md Salim) to meet Humayun Kabir, while they proclaim they are not doing religion-based politics?" he said.
He added that the party would continue to open its doors to young and committed leaders, citing the examples of Rwitobroto Mukherjee, Sayaani Ghosh and Debangshu Bhattacharya.
“We call upon young people from different parties to come and join us to work for the poor and the people in general," he said.
Rahaman had earlier contested from Diamond Harbour in the 2021 Assembly polls, finishing third behind the TMC and the BJP. Sources indicated that differences between him and the party leadership had surfaced during the South 24 Parganas district conference last year, culminating in his resignation and subsequent switch to the ruling camp.
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