The Crossbill News Desk
The surprise resignation of youth leader Pratikur Rahman has set off intense deliberations within the Communist Party of India (Marxist), with senior leaders attempting to convince him to withdraw his decision.
Media reports suggest that party leaders have initiated efforts to contact Rahman and resolve the issues that prompted his resignation, although it is still uncertain whether he will engage with the leadership or stand by his decision.
Pratikur, 35, has chosen not to elaborate publicly on the matter.
“Whatever I have to say, I will say within the party. I will not speak to the media or in any public forum,” he said.
Within the party, some leaders view his departure as a serious setback, especially with the West Bengal Assembly elections on the horizon. Sources indicated that Rahman was unhappy with CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim meeting suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir.
In his resignation letter, Rahman wrote that he “could not adjust” to the party’s recent developments.
Responding to the controversy, Salim termed the issue an internal organisational matter.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Salim said, “Such issues can’t be discussed in a public forum. We have a state committee meeting (February 19 and 20). We will discuss this matter there.”
Rahman began his political career with the Students’ Federation of India, serving as a former state president before moving to the parent party. He contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Diamond Harbour against TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and finished third with 86,953 votes.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, he also placed third in Diamond Harbour, behind candidates from the TMC and BJP. After transitioning to the CPI(M), he was given responsibilities in its “Khet Majur” (agricultural workers’) organisation.
A Political Science graduate from Diamond Harbour Fakir Chand College, Rahman has been regarded as one of the party’s prominent youth faces.
Reacting to the development, CPI(M) central committee member Minakshi Mukherjee told The Indian Express, “Every comrade who fights for the party is important, and Pratikur is one of them. The party leadership will speak about his resignation. The resignation of any comrade is a loss for us.”
Speculation about his next political move has intensified, with Bengali media reports suggesting he may join the ruling All India Trinamool Congress. The speculation gained momentum after TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh shared Rahman’s resignation letter on social media.
Party sources said the friction dates back to last year’s South 24 Parganas district conference, when Rahman resigned from the newly formed district committee along with several others.
The resignations were later withdrawn after intervention by the state committee. However, tensions are believed to have resurfaced following the recent meeting between the CPI(M) state secretary and the suspended TMC legislator, a move that Rahman reportedly criticised publicly.
Media reports suggest that party leaders have initiated efforts to contact Rahman and resolve the issues that prompted his resignation, although it is still uncertain whether he will engage with the leadership or stand by his decision.
Pratikur, 35, has chosen not to elaborate publicly on the matter.
“Whatever I have to say, I will say within the party. I will not speak to the media or in any public forum,” he said.
Within the party, some leaders view his departure as a serious setback, especially with the West Bengal Assembly elections on the horizon. Sources indicated that Rahman was unhappy with CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim meeting suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir.
In his resignation letter, Rahman wrote that he “could not adjust” to the party’s recent developments.
Responding to the controversy, Salim termed the issue an internal organisational matter.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Salim said, “Such issues can’t be discussed in a public forum. We have a state committee meeting (February 19 and 20). We will discuss this matter there.”
Rahman began his political career with the Students’ Federation of India, serving as a former state president before moving to the parent party. He contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Diamond Harbour against TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and finished third with 86,953 votes.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, he also placed third in Diamond Harbour, behind candidates from the TMC and BJP. After transitioning to the CPI(M), he was given responsibilities in its “Khet Majur” (agricultural workers’) organisation.
A Political Science graduate from Diamond Harbour Fakir Chand College, Rahman has been regarded as one of the party’s prominent youth faces.
Reacting to the development, CPI(M) central committee member Minakshi Mukherjee told The Indian Express, “Every comrade who fights for the party is important, and Pratikur is one of them. The party leadership will speak about his resignation. The resignation of any comrade is a loss for us.”
Speculation about his next political move has intensified, with Bengali media reports suggesting he may join the ruling All India Trinamool Congress. The speculation gained momentum after TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh shared Rahman’s resignation letter on social media.
Party sources said the friction dates back to last year’s South 24 Parganas district conference, when Rahman resigned from the newly formed district committee along with several others.
The resignations were later withdrawn after intervention by the state committee. However, tensions are believed to have resurfaced following the recent meeting between the CPI(M) state secretary and the suspended TMC legislator, a move that Rahman reportedly criticised publicly.
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