WB: After joining TMC, estranged CPM leader’s massive revelations shake Left camp

Kolkata: Days after resigning from the CPM and joining West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), Pratikur Rahaman has ignited a fresh political debate with a stinging analogy: “The CPM told me, Talaq, Talaq, Talaq! And the Trinamool said kubool, kubool, accept.”

The remark, made during a press conference, comes against the backdrop of Rahaman’s high-profile defection earlier this month. A former CPM state committee member who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, Rahaman switched to the TMC on February 16, citing “suffocation” within the Marxist party. The CPM expelled him soon after for “serious anti-party activities.”

Rahaman’s latest comments have sharpened the political narrative around internal dissent within the Left party and the broader churn in Bengal’s opposition space.

Explaining his analogy, Rahaman suggested that while the CPM distanced itself from him, the TMC was more welcoming. The statement quickly drew attention on social media, with leaders across party lines weighing in.

Attack on CPM’s ground politics

Rahaman did not hold back in the criticism of his former party’s activism, particularly on the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

“Absolutely. The CPM revolutionized on paper and on social media. But the ground reality says otherwise,” he said.

Claiming that the CPM had received “piles of notes and circulars” on SIR, Rahaman alleged that the party failed to translate its position into visible street-level protests.

In contrast, he credited the TMC for being “the only party on the road” opposing the process and confronting the BJP.

‘CPM votes going to BJP’

In perhaps his most provocative assertion, Rahaman argued that the CPM’s electoral base was eroding rapidly. “On the contrary, the CPM’s votes are evaporating overnight and going to the BJP,” he claimed.

The comment feeds into a long-running political argument in Bengal over whether the BJP has benefited from a decline in Left support. CPM leaders have repeatedly rejected this charge, maintaining that their ideological opposition to the BJP remains firm.

Internal dissent and ‘Yes Man’ culture

Rahaman also reflected on tensions within the CPM, saying it had become difficult to raise questions internally. “I have never believed in personal attacks. When I raised questions, many people loved me. But when I praised the Chief Minister and spoke out against the party’s state secretary, they abused me innumerable times,” he said.

He alleged that he was sidelined for not being a “Yes Man,” even claiming he was restricted from entering parts of the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency during his tenure with the party. Rahaman expressed resentment toward certain district-level leaders, accusing them of cornering him through “lobbying.”

Political significance

Rahaman’s departure is seen as symbolically significant. Known for his outreach among economically backward Muslims and his image as a grassroots Left leader, his exit underscores the challenges facing the CPM in rebuilding its organisational strength ahead of the upcoming elections.

While the TMC has welcomed Rahaman, party leaders have clarified that no electoral promises were made at the time of his induction. For now, Rahaman insists his focus is on public engagement rather than posts. “There is some responsibility. I have a sense of responsibility, so I wanted to stand by the people,” he said.

As Bengal’s political temperature rises, Rahaman’s sharp words have ensured that his switch continues to reverberate well beyond party offices, into the heart of the state’s evolving electoral battle.