Hinting that the need to change will be the mainstay of discussions in the imminent CPI(M) state conference and party congress beginning January 13, Bhattacharjee suggested that the diktats in Party Programme and Tactics -- the Red Book for all party cardholders -- should be revised to accommodate changing needs.

Bhattacharjee said, “In our party programme, issues of land and agriculture have been properly addressed. But in the present context, the right tactical line should be adopted.” It is imperative to diversify outlook, he added, because the immediate need is to “industrialise the state in order to ease the burden on agriculture”.

Bhattacharjee was addressing a gathering at the 42nd anniversary of the CPI(M)'s mouthpiece Ganashakti on Thursday. He said, “Socialism is the best structure but industrialisation will need capitalism. The government does not have the capital to invest... this reality has compelled me to invite private capital. There is no other alternative.”

A beleaguered Bhattacharjee is already fighting forces within and outside after he made clear that farmland will have to be acquired for SEZs. He has stressed earlier that the state has very little barren land, just one per cent of the available land area. Large projects cannot do without farmland, the state has maintained.

Bhattacharjee added, “Of the total land available, 23 per cent is occupied by industry and urban areas. Those who oppose our programme want us to stay within this limitation. But we need at least two to three per cent more.” A wiser Bhattacharjee, however, called for a proper rehabilitation policy; proper valuation and identification of land. “We must ensure that the farmer is not marginalised,” he said.