I had known Jyoti Basu for more than 40 years.
I met him first in 1967, when the first United Front government was constituted
in West Bengal . Basu was the deputy chief minister,
representing the CPI(M) in the coalition government headed by Ajoy Mukherjee.
The coalition returned power in 1969 with Ajoy Mukherjee as chief minister and
Basu as his deputy, but the latter also got the home ministry as CPI(M) had
emerged the largest party in the coalition.
As home minister, Basu had a confrontation
with his CM on some policy issues and also on some actions by the home
ministry. The differences escalated and ultimately, the second UF government
collapsed. During this period, the CM and his deputy exchanged some notes on
issues in regard to the relationship between a Cabinet minister and his chief
minister in a coalition government.
The notes were later reported in newspapers.
Mukherjee’s contention was that, as chief minister, he had the right and the
privilege to overview the functioning of any ministry and issue corrective
directions if required.
However, Basu maintained that the
constitutional position taken by Mukherjee was untenable in a coalition
government. Because the chief minister is the product of political
understanding amongst the political parties constituting the coalition, he or
she cannot enjoy the same authority as the CM of a single-party government,
without the approval of the entire coalition.
As I was associated with both UF governments
as a representative of Bangla Congress, which was also a member of the
coalition, I came in close contact with Basu. During the mid-term election of
1969, Basu suggested to Mukherjee that I be nominated to contest an assembly
constituency so that I could be inducted into the state Cabinet later. However,
that did not happen as my party entrusted me with other responsibilities. I was
elected to Rajya Sabha in the same year.
Basu had a very long innings both in the
legislature and in administration. He was elected to Bengal Legislative
Assembly in 1946 and continued to be its member till 2001, except for a short
period of 5 years (1972-77). Till date, his record as the longest-serving chief
minister (1977-2000) is unbroken.
Basu was an excellent parliamentarian and he
built his reputation as the opposition spokesman for nearly 20 years – from
1947 to 1967. He kept that reputation even after he became chief minister in
1977 -- as the chief spokesperson of the government and as the leader of the
house.
As chief minister for 23 years, his unique
contribution was to lead CPI(M) to victory in every election in the state --
from panchayats and municipalities to the assembly and the Lok Sabha. He turned
West
Bengal into an impregnable fort of CPI(M). His charismatic personality
was the main factor that kept the Left Front together.
During his tenure as CM, Basu is credited with
introducing successful land reforms. He decentralised power and authority, and
strengthened the panchayati raj system. The process of industrialisation was
initiated by him and could have achieved more success but for the dogmatic
approach of his party.
During his lifetime, he became a legend. He
was described as the great patriarch of the CPI(M). Because of his personality
he could criticise his party in public and even described one as a “historic
blunder”. At the same time, as a disciplined and committed party man, he
followed every decision of the party. Perhaps, he was the last colossus, who
dominated Bengal politics in Independent India.
The author is the finance minister of India .
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