Kolkata: Dissident CPI-M leader and former MP Lakshman Seth Wednesday demanded change in the party leadership and lavished praise on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying she possesses guts and has grown into a mature political administrator.
Iterating that he felt pain "at the activities of the party leadership", Seth said: "The party has given a slogan that says it wants change in policy, not leadership. But the policy does not come from heaven. I'd rather say the policy cannot be changed if there was no change in the leadership."
Seth also found fault with Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member and former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's comments that the party could support the Congress to keep the BJP out of power, if there was no other alternative after the Lok Sabha polls.
"This is doublespeak. On the one hand we are talking of maintaining equi-distance from the Congress and the BJP. On the other hand, we are saying that we may support the Congress if such a need arises. This is not done," said Seth, who wielded immense clout in the East Midnapore district during the last decade of the CPI-M led Left Front's 34-year rule.
He contended that no one should assume that people are "fools". "If we think people will believe, whatever we say, it is not that easy."
