In a body blow to the CPM before the impending Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation polls, Tapas Chatterjee, an influential leader in Rajarhat-Narayanpur, switched loyalty to the Trinamul Congress on July 1. Chatterjee, who joined the CPM in 1978, was chairman of the Rajarhat Municipality for 15 years.

In 1983, he became a panchayat member in Rajarhat Gopalpur and subsequently the panchayat pradhan. Since then, Chatterjee had not looked back. 

In 1994, when Rajarhat Gopalpur got municipality status, he became the vice-chairman with Amal Guha as the chairman. 

In 1999, he was elected the chairman of the Rajarhat Gopalpur Municipality and remained so till 2014. Like in Salt Lake, elections are due in Rajarhat-Gopalpur Municipality and an administrator now runs its affairs. The area would now be clubbed with the Bidhannagar municipal area to pave the way for a new corporation.

On July 1, dressed in a crisp white kurta and matching footwear, Chatterjee started from his home in Lalkuthi at 2.15pm at the head of a huge group of supporters. Only this time they were carrying Trinamul flags instead of red ones with the CPM’s hammer, sickle and star.

Because of protests earlier in the day, Chatterjee was escorted out of Rajarhat by a huge posse of policemen. Supporters followed the convoy in buses, cars and motorcycles.

The Telegraph Salt Lake caught up with him just before he left in a grey Scorpio for Trinamul Bhavan where he was later handed the party flag by party general secretary Partha Chatterjee and welcomed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamul Youth Congress president. 

Excerpts from Chatterjee’s conversation with Snehal Sengupta.

Why did you decide to join Trinamul Congress?

I had taken the decision long back. The CPM has veered away from its ideology. In the last party congress, party workers were asked to maintain distance from all political parties. Tell me, is this how Jyoti Basu steered the party through tough times? How will you be a potent opposition force if you distance yourself from every political party in West Bengal? Moreover, younger and dynamic people in the party are not being given a chance to play an active role — the likes of Ramola Chakraborty, Abdul Sattar and Balai Chatterjee for instance.

How long back did you decide to quit CPM? Who initiated talks with you?

I was having problems with the party (CPM) since the last four years. These days, politics is alliance-driven whereas the Left wanted to keep itself isolated. If 40 youths from a locality join hands irrespective of caste and creed then which dacoit will dare to strike that area? Sadly this never dawned on the politburo members. Did Jyoti Basu not back Janata Dal (in 1989)? Participatory democracy is missing in CPM.
I always admired Kakolidi’s (Ghosh Dastidar, MP) work. Before she met me, she used to think that I roam around with an AK-47. But she always kept in touch and I was attracted to her personality and work.

Rajarhat New Town MLA Sabyasachi Dutta had referred to you as a paposh (doormat) in an interview to The Telegraph Salt Lake. How can you work with him?

I have joined the party because of Mamata Banerjee, not because of him (Dutta). She and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee wanted me to join the party. Some Trinamul workers kept in touch with me even when I was in the CPM and revealed several wrongdoings of the leadership in the area. 

He (Dutta) is not my enemy but now he has become a colleague. If we believe in the same ideas then it is best to leave the past behind, bury the hatchet and walk on the path of development.

Has Trinamul made any promises to you to lure you into joining the party?

No such promise or under the table deal is involved. Ami Mamatadi-r moddhey Left ideology khuje pai, tai ami Trinamul e jog dilam. (I see Left ideologies in Mamatadi. This is why I have joined this party). Mamata Banerjee’s and Jyoti Basu’s styles of working are totally similar. 

What are the CPM’s prospects in the upcoming Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation polls?

They don’t stand a chance. Had I been there, the results would have been very different. But now they are staring at a disastrous outcome. They might even finish a distant third in some areas.

Do you think the formation of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation would be beneficial?

Yes, it is a good thing as there will be greater flow of funds. I have asked for one thing prior to joining Trinamul. More than 1,000 of my boys have been shunted out of various government offices and I intend to get them back to work. And I want my work to win me votes. 

Do you think that the upcoming elections would be peaceful and people would get to cast their votes?

In the past, the Left had rigged elections. Now, even Trinamul is doing so in some areas. I am strictly against this. I believe candidates should be confident of winning on their merit and not muscle power. I have matured with age and I will ensure that fair polls are held. Sobai nijer vote ditey parben. Ami rigging e biswas kori na (Everyone will be able to cast his vote. I do not believe in rigging). 

You have quit a party of which you were a member since 1978. What will you do if things don’t work in your favour in Trinamul?

If the need arises and I feel that I am not being able to do what I have set out to do, I will not think twice before quitting Trinamul as well. 

(Chatterjee was expelled from the CPM soon after he joined Trinamul, with Gautam Deb, the North 24-Parganas district committee secretary, accusing him of being a “traitor” to the party.)