Kolkata, Feb 21 The latest developments in West Bengal politics, stemming from Pratikur Rahman's defection to the TMC, could provide a significant boost to the ruling party, especially given the concerns about its declining popularity among Muslim voters, stakeholders said.
Rahman's move may not necessarily be beneficial for him unless he aligns himself with Mamata Banerjee's approach, they added.
Rahman, who contested against TMC's Abhishek Banerjee in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Diamond Harbour and has faced criticism for his past role as a Left leader, switched allegiance in the presence of Amtala, South 24 Parganas' second-in-command.
Earlier, Rahman expressed his dissatisfaction with certain individuals within the CPI(M) leadership, alleging a culture of silencing dissent and nepotism.
Rahman resigned from the CPI(M)'s state committee and primary membership on February 16, stating that he could not align with the party's views and strategies on certain issues.
"They expect unquestioning loyalty from me and have pushed me into a corner because I questioned certain ideologies and principles of the party. That is not how I envision the functioning of a communist party," he said.
Rahman also stated that many other honest and dedicated individuals within the CPI(M) are facing similar challenges. He pointed out that the party had removed Srijan Bhattacharya, one of its prominent young leaders, from the Bangla Bachao Yatra rallies despite incompetent leaders being present.
CPI(M) general secretary Md Salim compared Rahman's defection to "losing one's own child."
However, he also stated that this was a victory for the party in producing fresh, untainted, and idealistic political elements in the state, which parties like the TMC need to rely on to "save its moral standing."
"A party like Trinamool, known for corruption, nepotism, and communal politics, knows that its dole-based policies and pro-religious agenda have failed to impress voters. Therefore, they are trying to tap into the young Left brigade to find an individual who can save its dwindling popularity," Salim told reporters on Friday.
The CPI(M) expelled Rahman after he formally joined the TMC.
Senior journalist Biswajit Bhattacharya said that Rahman's presence in Trinamool would undoubtedly benefit the party's campaigns for the upcoming state elections, especially in Muslim-dominant districts in both north and south Bengal.
However, he added that Rahman could find himself "out of place" if he struggles to adapt to the TMC's party culture.
"The TMC will certainly benefit from Rahman's presence, especially in districts like Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur, as well as North and South 24 Parganas, which have a significant Muslim population. He may or may not be offered a seat in the assembly. But that may not be the end of the story," Bhattacharya said.
"If Rahman finds that expressing his opinions within the CPI(M) is being stifled, he may also feel out of place within the TMC," the journalist added.
Prof Maidul Islam, a political science teacher at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, felt that Rahman's move would help the TMC secure the electoral loyalty of a section of the Left vote base, who continue to admire him for his political resilience and rebellious attitude.
"This is a valuable political asset that the TMC can use to improve its image," Islam said. "Rahman can become the face of the new minority leadership in a party where ideological articulation remains mostly unclear."
The academician opined that the days of unquestioning loyalty to a party, despite sacrifices made for it going unrewarded, are over.
"Most politicians, even those who are honest, have backup plans in case their rise within the party is thwarted. This is common in the current political landscape," he said.
Economist Prasenjit Bose, a former strategist for the SFI at Jawaharlal Nehru University, quit the party in 2012 when he was in his late 30s after disagreeing with the Left's decision to support Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for President. He was subsequently expelled by the party.
Bose has since worked as a social activist, researcher, and columnist before joining the Congress party in September 2025.
"Younger leaders leaving the Left should be a cause for introspection," Bose said, refusing to elaborate on how this development could affect the CPI(M) or how the TMC could benefit from the election in the state.
