Jagmati Sangwan quits CPM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

Senior leader of the CPM Jagmati Sangwan today tendered her resignation in protest against the party leadership for allowing the West Bengal unit to compromise its ideological position by aligning with the Congress for the Assembly elections in the state.

Jagmati Sangwan is also the general secretary of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA).

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and party chief Sitaram Yechury were present when Sangwan resigned.

Reacting to her resignation, Yechury said: “She tried to make a point during the meeting. She was asked to wait as the issue at hand needed to be concluded first. But she left the floor in a huff, raising her voice.”

He indicated that the party would not approach her to withdraw the resignation. “What does one do when someone behaves like this? The party did not expel her. She quit the party. This is not the way to make your point at a meeting,” he said. She said she resigned as she was hurt by the behaviour of senior leaders of the party.

“The Politbureau, which met prior to the CC meet, had submitted a report terming the alliance with the Congress as ‘violation’ of CPM’s political tactical line — an ideological position that the party should adopt with regard to other political parties. But after the CC deliberation, it was concluded that the word ‘violation’ would be deleted and a milder word would be used instead.

She alleged the leadership also sidelined her when she raised her voice even though many in the party held similar view with regard to the alliance with the Congress.