Kolkata : A senior leader and minister in ruling Left Front government in West Bengal said on Tuesday that the alliance has "lost" touch with the people and "people want a change".
"The Front has remained in power for long. Now, people want a change. Earlier, only a handful clamoured for change in the guard. Now the demand has become widespread," RSP leader and PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami told newsmen.
Calling for 'ruthless self-introspection' by Left Front to see why it had lost touch with the people in its 33 years of rule, he said "we must find out why we are becoming unacceptable to the people. Front activists right from leaders to the workers will have to analyse the reasons."
Goswami, who had criticised Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and his party CPI(M) on various occasions earlier, said it was immaterial whether or not the Left Front returned to power in coming assembly elections.
"It is more important for Left parties to continue their struggle for social change. They are carrying out their struggle in many places of the country where they are not in power. Therefore, it is no cause for disappointment," he said.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had called for immediate measures to rectify lapses in planning, particularly in land acquisition.
In an interview to CPI(M) mouthpiece 'Ganashakti' on the occasion of 33 years of Left Front rule in the state, the chief minister said faulty planning was responsible for the negative performance of the Left Front government since the last Lok Sabha poll. He said it was imperative that fertile land was protected and industries set up only on barren land. PTI
