During an interview with a Bengali television channel on Friday, he said: “Earlier, the Marxists were in a stronger position and they did not show much inclination for talks. It was because the CPM has a Stalinist attitude. But now they have become a minority and are showing interest in talks. The Opposition should come forward and only then the problems confronting us can be sorted out.”

He said at Lalgarh, it is the social bandits who are ruling the roost. “The ruling party did not do anything for them. But where was the Opposition earlier?” Sen said. “How can you explain their newfound sympathy for the people at Lalgarh, which is now controlled by social bandits?”

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, he said, had earnestly tried for industrial development but there were minor flaws in his thinking. These became major later as he did not have dialogue with anybody on this and the state had to pay the price.

“Political discussions are needed, but I don’t see they are happening,” the eminent economist said.

So far as land acquisition at Singur was concerned, he said the acquisition was wrong and Tatas should have bought land there. “The Tatas would have had to spend less than what they did had they purchased the land directly. Now the state lost that factory. People will have to think how our kids will get jobs,” Sen said.