CPM's Insaaf Yatra Culminates in Brigade Parade Ground Rally, Sets Stage for Political Revival

Using the large platform at Brigade Parade Ground on Sunday, the CPM did two things: first, it announced that it was time to deploy its young brigade for more political duties; and second, it raised the alarm for the Lok Sabha elections by threatening to engage in a fierce war with opponents Trinamul and the BJP.

"In order to assist the seeds become plants, we are planting them. A sizable gathering had gathered to witness the conclusion of the Insaaf Yatra (March for Justice), and CPM state secretary and former DYFI leader Md Salim said, "We will play the role of gardeners, provide fertilisers and irrigate the field well to help them grow."

The party's youth wing embarked on an approximately 2,200km trek known as the Insaaf Yatra, which began on November 3 in Cooch Behar and finished 50 days later in Jadavpur, Calcutta.

Salim's allegories sufficed to show that the party, led by 39-year-old DYFI state secretary Minakshi Mukherjee, whom CPM veteran Biman Bose often addresses as "captain," was grooming the younger generation to take on more responsibility.

The cadres seemed to have arrived ready for Salim's signal as they crowded onto the Brigade Parage Grounds.

As the DYFI leader approached the stage to give her address, which lasted for around 20 minutes and was laced with criticism of the BJP and the Trinamul, shouts of "Minakshi zindabad" briefly filled the air.

A seasoned member of the party said that the CPM has been pursuing this policy for some time, especially in light of the party's repeated electoral setbacks and the need to elevate the younger generation to positions of authority. Prior to Salim giving away the game plan, central committee member Abhas Roychowdhury gave a statement that left no room for speculation on Minakshi and her group's involvement.

"With the younger generation leading the way, Bengal has seen signs of a possible rebirth of the Left and democratic movement. With CPM stalwarts like Bose and Surjyakanta Mishra seated among the audience, Roychowdhury said, "The possibility of rejuvenation will help (in the long run) throw away the evil force from Bengal's seat of power." The Brigade erupted in thunderous applause.

Knowing that the goal of the 50-day march was to address all "nainsaafi (injustice)" and that providing an alternative would be essential to the Left's comeback in Bengal, Minakshi did not hold back when declaring that divisive politics and corruption were the two main threats that had to be defeated in order to bring justice to people, especially young people.

"There have been occasions when we have marched on foot to demand the opening of industries, universities, or social peace. Justice was to be served by this stroll. Minakshi said, "We are committed to the people, so this fight for justice is a continuous process," calling on Leftists and sympathizers to "widen the field to capture it" and make sure the "communal BJP and corrupt Trinamul" are defeated.

Every politician who addressed the crowd on Super Sunday, from Roychowdhury to Salim to Minakshi, attempted to connect with the young by emphasizing the need of creating employment.

"There will be a fight for work." Move beyond the BJP and Trinamul shaming and fight for the true cause," Minakshi said, letting the audience know who the Left's opponents are in the elections where the party hopes to shift the tide of the vote.

Salim, the penultimate speaker, reminded the audience of the pressing task at hand: the 2024 Lok elections, if the Brigade event was revealing the party's plan with the younger team of leaders.

Salim said, "We have walked for 50 days, but a lot more needs to be covered," perhaps attempting to reassure supporters that Sunday's enormous attendance should not overwhelm them.

Even though Sunday's Brigade was a stand-alone performance by the DYFI, the Left Front—which included the Congress and the ISF—had a sizable demonstration there before to the 2021 Assembly elections. The Congress and the Left Front did not gain a single seat in the Assembly elections, in spite of the large participation of the Brigade.

Salim declared: "The Insaaf Yatra has just begun; it will not end with the Brigade rally. We will need to make contact with the outlying areas of Bengal.

Before the Lok Sabha elections, Salim used the DYFI platform to convey a strong message to his party's members. He criticized the BJP and Trinamul and brought up the CPM's often-stated "setting" hypothesis between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Salim claimed that Mamata's only goal was to "protect nephew Abhishek Banerjee" while showing little concern for the young people who had left the state in large numbers to seek employment. He accused Trinamul of corruption and named jailed leaders, including Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mullick, to argue that Bengal had descended into chaos ever since the Left was overthrown.

Once the BJP took office, Trinamul's boldness grew. Salim urged the people to make a "left turn" and reminded them that Delhi was "busy" giving the nation to businessmen like the Adanis and Ambanis. "If a thief becomes the guard, who will nab the thief?" Salim said.

A massive national Tricolour was flown next to the Brigade stage as Minakshi utilized a cricket metaphor to highlight the Left's precarious position in Bengal's current political landscape.

She said, "We know it's not a T20 match, but a match can change when some players enter the field."