The Left Front’s manifesto for the West Bengal Assembly elections highlights people’s livelihood issues above anything else: ‘No Mandir-Masjid, Bengal needs Employment’. It is a document that excels the left, democratic and secular alternatives to “Save Bengal”. Veteran CPI(M) leader and Left Front Chairman Biman Basu released the election manifesto in a press meet on March 4, along with CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sridip Bhattacharya, CPI State Secretary Swapan Banerjee, Sanjib Chatterjee of the Forward Bloc, Rajib Banerjee of the Revolutionary Socialist Party and others. The document encompasses the true alternatives against the binary politics of the BJP and the TMC.

Basu said, “The present government runs in a way that carries a debt of Rs 7.14 lakh crore. When the Left Front was in power it was 1.92 lakh crore as a cumulative amount right from the time of independence till 2011. The TMC government halts every aspect of development in the name of debt. We propose an alternative to restore such anarchic conditions in our state and to blockade the communal politics of hatred that creates division in the name of religion, race, language and in every possible other way among the people by the BJP as well.”

The 16-page document highlights: 

i)      A resurgent Bengal: A five-year plan for the youth of the state with a holistic up scaling for employment generation with a) 4 million permanent employment opportunities, b) 2.5 million roles in industrial and logistics services, c) 2 million rural employment opportunities, and d) 1.5 million technology-driven Jobs. It holds a guaranteed declaration that at least one person from every jobless family will be provided with employment and social security via a transparent recruitment system under the banner of ‘Netaji Subhash Yuva Sevak Project’ that will encompass young job-seekers in social service, productive, and developmental work with a monthly allowance of ₹2,000 to boost a knowledge-based economy for the state. 

ii)     Corruption-free, transparent and sensitive administration: The left, democratic and secular alternative will keep focus on the workers and peasants. It will implement the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission and guarantee a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 16 crops at 1.5 times the production cost. The middleman-centric farming process will be altered through panchayat-level cooperatives that will run rice mills and strengthen farmer producer organisations (FPOs). A minimum daily wage of ₹700 will be ensured for workers. The entire app-based job system and unorganised sectors will be covered under social security schemes. The government will ensure trade union rights and resist the implementation of four anti-labour codes. Initiatives will be taken to reopen closed factories and tea gardens. Modernisation of all industries and restoration of the MSME sector through easy credit and marketing support and establishment of new software and hardware parks are declared.

iii)    Vibrant democracy: The governance will be based on “by the people and for the people” policy that will eliminate ‘syndicate’ and ‘cut-money’ culture to save an estimated ₹50,000 crore annually for public welfare. All the false political cases will be withdrawn. High-level commissions will be empowered to investigate recruitment scams, coal-sand smuggling, and financial embezzlement of the last 15 years.

iv) Women safety and empowerment: That declares a plan for 20 million self-help groups (SHGs) within 5 years. A group named ‘Abhaya Bahini’ will be formed in state police for rapid intervention in the cases regarding safety and protection. Equal pay, social security, and workplace dignity for queer and transgender workers are also highlighted in this comprehensive plan. Priorities will be given to minorities and tribals. Specially-abled persons will receive a monthly pension of ranging ₹3,000-5,000 accordingly. 

v)     Unyielding on maintaining peace and order: The maintenance of peace and order is guaranteed by prompt action against politics of hatred and corruption. Alternative will triumph once there will be peace, for this the document set a clear plan for quality initiatives in the fields of culture, sports and safety for natural resources of the state (jal, jangal and zamin).   

vi)    Zero tolerance on communalism: The document noted that harmony, peace, and human unity are the foundational heritage of the state and every individual has the constitutional right to speak in their mother tongue and the freedom to practice their own religion. Any attempt to divide the populace on the lines of caste, religion, and language will be intervened and the governance will uphold peace, discipline, and communal harmony in the state. Any divisive force spreading malice and hatred will be sternly suppressed.

While answering to the reporters on the situation due to SIR in the state, Basu said, “The Election Commission proved itself as nincompoop (Nikamma). From the very beginning we, the Left Front, demanded an error-free, proper voter roll. It seemed that’s not yet prepared but lakhs of genuine voters are either excluded via ‘under adjudication’ or have been deleted from the list. There are grave disappointments and rage among the people in this situation. The commission should move correctly and quickly to enlist all the genuine voters. Some of the candidates are in the adjudicated and deleted list, these matters must be clinched as soon as possible.” 

After 15 years of the TMC government the state is under anarchy, he said. The RSS-backed BJP is enforcing brazen communal and exclusionary tactics to create hatred among the people as far as possible. This binary must be defeated through people’s unity and harmony. Only a government based on welfare and pro-people policies can alter the situation. The distress of rural women due to microfinance trap, the massive unemployment lead to migrant labour problems -- these are the real issues. Farmers and agricultural workers need proper intervention from the government. Only a left, democratic and secular alternative can stand for the people, and the Left Front along with its allied forces will ensure that. The misrule will be defeated, and that’s what “Save Bengal” means.           

The manifesto ends with a modest appeal to the people: “You too are an important partner in Bengal's renaissance. The only path to fulfilling the immaculate dream of human welfare is the resurgence of the Left. We want the politics of division, hatred, and enmity to be defeated; let the unity of people grow stronger, and let humanistic politics prevail. Our struggle against violence, hatred, division, and plunder will remain unwavering; because we believe that only through the path of unity and justice can true human welfare be achieved.

To end this anarchic captive state in the region, along with defeating the Trinamool Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections, the BJP must be halted. The alternative of left, democratic, and secular forces must triumph. Ensure victory for all candidates of the Left Front and allied Indian Secular Front, CPI(ML) Liberation, and the West Bengal Socialist Party. Pave the way for the resurgence of the Left through a people’s government of left, democratic and secular forces.

We will establish peace, harmony, the right to work, and a life of dignity in this state — this is our pledge.”