Nirapad Sardar praises Mamata's Lakshmi Bhandar despite political rivalry in Bengal

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) continues to sharpen its national strategy, identifying the divisive Bharatiya Janata Party as its principal enemy across the country. However, in Bengal, the party's battle is uniquely twofold, as it fights against both the BJP at the Centre and the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state.

Amid this political backdrop, a surprising remark from a senior CPM leader has drawn attention. Nirapad Sardar, CPM’s Sandeshkhali leader and the state general secretary of the farm workers' organization, praised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s welfare scheme, ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’. His comments stand out, especially given the ongoing political hostility between the CPM and the Trinamool Congress.

Addressing local workers, Sardar acknowledged that the 'Lakshmi Bhandar' initiative has indeed benefited women across rural Bengal. "We must recognize that the scheme has provided necessary financial assistance to many women who needed it the most," he said, adding that politics should not prevent acknowledgment of policies that genuinely help people.

Nevertheless, Sardar made it clear that despite appreciating certain schemes, the CPM’s ideological fight against Trinamool’s political approach and governance model remains unwavering. “Our battle is against corruption, autocracy, and oppression, not against welfare for the poor,” he added.

The CPM in Bengal continues its complex struggle, balancing between critiquing the ruling party’s failures while occasionally acknowledging positive impacts where due. Meanwhile, the party’s central leadership keeps its focus firmly on combating the BJP’s influence nationally, adhering to its broader anti-communal framework.

Observers note that such nuanced positions reflect a new political pragmatism within the CPM, aiming to rebuild grassroots credibility without diluting its opposition to both major forces in Bengal.