Newsmaker: Ritabrata Banerjee, breaking red ranks from within

Ritabrata Banerjee was expelled from CPI(M) for 'anti-party activities'

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had only nine members in the Lok Sabha and seven in the Rajya Sabha. The latter number is now down to six, with the expulsion of Ritabrata Banerjee for ‘anti-party activities’, apparently including the owning of an Apple watch and a Mont Blanc pen.

Banerjee stands expelled under section 19 (13) of the party constitution. Section 19 deals with party discipline; clause 13 is invoked against those who break the party line. “In exceptional circumstances, party committees in their discretion may resort to summary procedure in expelling members for grave anti-party activities,” it reads.

The immediate reason for his expulsion was an interview he gave to Bangla television channel ABP Ananda, where he said:

* “In this era where 54 per cent of India’s population is (aged) 25 years, CPM has failed to address this population.” 

* “The CPI(M) only focuses on Kerala. Leaders who cannot even get 1,000 votes decide the party’s policy in Bengal.”

* Mohammad Salim, (who heads the party’s disciplinary committee and recommended his expulsion) headed a ‘kangaroo commission’.

* Salim is part of the apex body, the politburo, due to the Muslim quota.

* Sitaram Yechury is a minority general secretary and the majority is led by Prakash and Brinda Karat. The Karats blocked Yechury’s re-entry to the Rajya Sabha out of “jealousy”.

Obviously, after all this, he could not have stayed on in the CPI (M). The party did think briefly that it might suspend him but then decided to end its association.

Banerjee claimed the leadership had gone as far as to access his bank account and find how much money he had (leaders are expected to donate all earnings to the party). The party says it is surprised at what he’d done, for it has information that Banerjee was in touch with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. They are convinced he will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming days.

Banerjee is also  in touch with disgraced Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy. Together, they are expected to form a political front that will have ‘Hail Bengal’ as its primary slogan and ultimately assist the BJP in the state. 

Banerjee criticised the party and invited expulsion because he believes the CPI(M) is becoming an irrelevant force in a state where it strode as a colossus for decades. He is not yet 40 and believes he has a long tenure in politics. 

The Trinamool Congress has not reacted. CPI (M) leaders say Banerjee might have found his true calling, the BJP. But, even they don’t really deny that he has a point.