CPM dialectics: Evil builder, now friendly host

Ironically, the state conference—which ended on Saturday—itself turned out to be yet another example of how the promoter-party nexus has spread its tentacles deep and wide.

Three multi-storied apartment blocks built by local builders were taken over and named ‘A K Gopalan Nagar’ by the conference organisers. They used the apartments to house the delegates.

One of the buildings was promoted by Satinath Nag, against whom there are charges of land grab. Police sources confirmed that in at least one project that he had floated in the name of his wife, there is a case of fraud. Neither Satinath nor his wife Debika Nag could be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Anjan Bhattacharya’s housing project close to the conference venue accommodated as many as 32 delegates. These housing blocks are newly built, some have already been sold while some are empty and unoccupied.

When The Indian Express contacted Bhattacharya on his mobile phone to ask why he had given out his apartments for the party conference, he shot back: ‘‘Who gave you my number? Ask all your questions to him !’’

When asked if the party paid him for the facilities, he refused to comment.

Among the party stalwarts responsible for organising the state conference were Amitava Nandi, MP and Manas Mukherjee, MLA. Nandi was the secretary of the reception committee.

When contacted, Nandi said that the housing of delegates in the apartments does not prove the existence of an unholy nexus between party and promoters. “They (the promoters) are building some housing units—some of which have been lying incomplete,” Nandi said. “We requested them to provide accommodation and they agreed.’’ ‘‘There is nothing more to it,’’ he said. ‘‘The buildings are legal constructions.’’

Incidentally, the CPI(M) district secretary was not stating anything revolutionary in his report: he was merely parroting what party documents have been saying for the past few years. The nexus between party leaders and real estate promoters is just one of the “evils” that leaders at various levels have been disturbed about.

The North 24 Parganas district conference held on January 24 discussed the issue threadbare. The secretary’s report in that meeting noted how members of the party were getting involved with real estate developers while those in the rank and file got into the business of supplying bricks, stone chips and other materials. The document further acknowledged that members and even leaders are involved with real estate developers.

The district secretary’s accusations continue to ring loud: his committee alone has found 78 cases in which CPI(M) members are involved in land-grabbing, filling up of water bodies and illegal constructions in municipal areas. But no action has been taken against any.