Chennai: The CPI (M) in Tamil Nadu has triggered a controversy of sorts by denying tickets to sitting MLAs K. Balabharathi (Dindigul) and P. Dillibabu (Harur) on the grounds that none should get more than two terms in the Assembly and infusion of fresh blood would aid party's growth.
Both these legislators have performed extremely well in the House and outside, raising several critical issues, and the denial of tickets to them was gross injustice done to the people of not just their constituencies but the entire state, say political observers.
Responding to criticism on this score, party's state secretary G. Ramakrishnan explained that the decision not to field Balabharathi and Dillibabu was pursuant to the unanimous decision taken by the state committee at its Sunday meeting that those who had done two terms or more in the Assembly should not be given tickets as others too must get the opportunities to serve people.
“Even Comrade Balabharathi was present at that meeting of the state committee and she was part of that unanimous decision”, argued Ramakrishnan, while expressing the hope that she would extend total support for the party nominee N. Pandi at Dindigul for the May 16 poll.
“I have no differences with the state committee decision. In fact, I welcome it as others in the party would get the opportunity to serve the people”, said Balabharathi when Deccan Chronicle approached her for her views on the state party unit's doctrine on 'infusing fresh blood' by denying tickets to experienced legislators. "I am a disciplined party worker and I will go by any decision the party takes. Also, I firmly believe that one can take up people's issues even outside the Assembly and achieve results".
Comrade Dillibabu too voiced similar views, stressing that he too is a loyal party worker and believed that the old must make way for the new. “We must help the party to grow and this is one way", he insisted.
Political observers point out that in states like West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, where the Marxists are in much larger numbers and have won power, the comrades have got multiple terms as MLAs and the 'fresh blood' dogma did not figure there. "Each state unit has its own policy. In Tamil Nadu, we have this policy (no ticket after two terms) and I am in total agreement with that. I cannot comment beyond that", quipped Balabharathi.
Marxist watchers are also unhappy at Ms Leema Rose being denied the ticket in Vilavancode. The party probably applied the not-more-than-two-chances norm to Ms Rose, who had quit her job as government school teacher to contest (and win) in 2006 from Thiruvattar in Kanyakumari district. Coming from a poor family-mother was a brick kiln worker-she had done extremely well in the House but could not win in the 2011 poll against the Congress' Vijayadharini in Vilavancode.
