Communist Party of Bengal
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Communist Party of Bengal বাংলার কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি | |
|---|---|
 Party flag and Logo | |
| Abbreviation | CPB |
| Leader | Naba Kumar Ghosh |
| President | Shital Kumar Mukherjee |
| First Secretary | Naba Kumar Ghosh |
| Founder | Sarat Chandra Bose |
| Founded | July 21, 1949 |
| Preceded by | Communist Party of India |
| Headquarters | Rasbihari Avenue, Kolkata |
| Newspaper | Ganakantha (গণকণ্ঠ) |
| Student wing | Students' Federation of Bengal |
| Youth wing | Democratic Youth Federation of Bengal |
| Women's wing | Womens' Democratic Association of Bengal |
| Membership (2019) | 1,586,568 |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Left-wing to Far-left |
| International affiliation | The Communist International |
| Colors | Red |
| Slogan | "Nothing but People's Rule!" |
| Members of NA | 151 / 294
|
| Members of PAs | 394 / 742
|
| Members of MAs | 3,541 / 8,745
|
The Communist Party of Bengal (Bengali: বাংলার কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি ; CPB) is a communist and socialist political party in Bengaala.
Established in 1951, it is the oldest political party in Bengal, and the strongest political party electorally (since 1997). The party played an important role in the Bengali independence movement and remained either the second largest or largest political force ever since. The party is currently lead by first secretary Naba Kumar Ghosh.
History
Foundation (1947-1949)
The Communist Party of Bengal was founded by Sarat Chandra Bose. Bose had overseen the merger of the AIFB and CPI in 1947 just before Indian independence, and remained supportive of a Communist India until independence. He had won the leadership of CPI Bengal in 1948, but still grew more and more critical of the Indian state and even CPI, as he concluded the CPI had "succumbed" to electoralism and the "bourgeois" Indian state. The failure of the Indian state to prevent partition of Bengal along religious lines and the dominance of the central government over federal subjects gave rise to dissent in the state of West Bengal and created popular separatist movement. The communists of Bengal capitalised on the dissent and took leadership of the movement. The dissatisfied national leadership of the CPI immediately expelled Bose, who formed a new party thereafter named "Communist Party of Bengal". He opened the door of the party towards all kind of anti-fascists and anti-capitalists, including even reformists. Bose asserted his will that he wished the independence movement of Bengal to be led only by anti-capitalists and anti-fascists. The new party was subsequently joined by the vast majority of the regional wing of the CPI. The CPI's Bengali wing ceased to exist by 1949, as only 150-200 members were left as per official reports.
Rebellion and struggle (1950-1968)
The CPB pushed for armed rebellion against India in the 1950s. Sarat Chandra Bose founded the "Swadhin Bahini (Free Army)" and funded them. The FA instigated demonstrations, protests and sometimes even riots against the Indian state. The party's fighting became more violent in nature after the 1955-56 suppression of Bengali rebellions by the Indian government. However, the party slowly abandoned the path by 1960s, especially due to the disinterest of the public in open rebellion after the suppression of 1955. The FA was disbanded in 1961. The party joined the BC in legal means to attain independence, however continued to support disorganized protests across Bengal. The party funded rebel groups during the heightened anti-government demonstrations in 1967-68. It participated in the 1968 constitutional assembly elections and came first, which marked the first electoral success of the CPB.
Split and pre-independence (1968-1969)
By early 1968, Harish Bose, a reformist communist leader, had disagreements over the communists' policy. His visit in Europe in 1968, especially in France and Italy, moved him and he concluded that Marxism-Leninism had no path to success and became a proponent of the developing eurocommunistic current in Europe. Later his division with other hardliners of the CPB grew and he formed his own reformist, socialist party in 1968, named Socialist Unity Party. The party initially tried to ally with both BC and CPB, deeming an united pan-Bengali struggle necessary for Bengali independence. However, the BC remained opposed to such a coalition, and over time its distance with the SUP grew. The CPB reacted by leaving the pact and the SUP permanently broke ties with the BC. The split paved way for the BC to become the largest party in the Constitutional Assembly, which ultimately resulted in reduced communist influence. However CPB did not take up arms again. A new constitution was developed jointly with the parties by the communists and Bengal was declared independent in 1970, followed by the adoption of the new constitution.
Under Bangla Congress
The CPB participated in the provisional national unity government in 1970. The party fared worse than expected in the 1970 elections. The party performed the strongest in South Bengal, especially the Hooghly and Howrah provinces. The BC performed strongly in North Bengal and the Purulia province. The BC formed a government with support from the liberal PBL. The party continuously remained in opposition nationally until 1997. The party, however, had significant regional power, continuously remaining in power in Hooghly since 1970 till the present day. CPB's pro-Soviet attitude had moderated in the 1980s and 90s, which brought it ideologically closer to the SUP. The two parties formed several regional governments together during the period. The party participated in the severe protests and demonstrations against the government's involvement in the Ratnapur Scandal in 1995-97, followed by its landslide victory in 1997, the first electoral victory for the CPB in the history of independent Bengal.
Government (1997-Present)
The CPB assumed power in the country during a period of economic recession and nationwide economic crises. The party's policies, aimed at an anti-austerity program with worker-friendly measures, relaxed the hardship. The party has been credited with succesful eradication of several diseases including Malaria. The poverty rate and infant mortality also dropped greatly during its tenure in government. Bengal was noted for its economic development under the communist government. However, the party has faced criticism of its autocratic use of the state apparatus. The party has continuously won elections in the country since 1997 till this day.