National Partners, State Adversaries: The CPI(M)-TMC Conundrum

Questions have emerged over coordination between the CPI(M)’s national leadership and its West Bengal unit following reports party’s Kerala leaders reaching out to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Delhi. The reported outreach has triggered speculation over whether the Bengal unit was kept in the loop. The issue has brought the party’s internal communication and decision-making process under scrutiny, particularly given the sharply contrasting political positions adopted by the CPI(M) at the national level and in West Bengal. In Bengal, the TMC remains one of the CPI(M)’s principal political rivals. The Left party has consistently campaigned against it. However, the need for coordination among Opposition parties at the national level to counter the BJP also remains a significant consideration. The reported contacts have therefore highlighted the challenge of balancing broader national political objectives with the distinct electoral and political realities of individual states. Most importantly, party’s national general secretary MA Baby had written to all Opposition leaders including TMC chief Mamata Banerjee recently on the SIR and ECI chief Gyanesh Kumar issue. He even had a telephonic conversation with Mamata after she reciprocated on the issue. Close sources to Mamata confirmed that Didi is in touch with the Keralam unit ever since the SIR issue has taken shape. However, CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty sought to draw a distinction between the two political contexts, making it clear that efforts to build unity among anti-BJP parties at the national level should not be interpreted as an indication of an alliance with the TMC in West Bengal. The developments have brought the question of organisational coordination within the CPI(M) into focus. While the party may need to engage with other Opposition forces at the national level, its Bengal unit continues to view the TMC as a key political opponent.