In a major blow to the CPI(M), Lok Sabha member Radhika Ranjan Paramanik today snapped ties with the party accusing it of ‘‘exerting pressure to misuse funds from MP quota for the coming panchayatpolls’’. Paramanik’s decision gains significance since the state is soon to hold panchayat elections and the Opposition might use it to it’s own benefit.An MP from South 24 Parganas - Mathurapur since 1989, Paramanik later said, ‘‘When I made it clear that I would spend the fund for schools, colleges, hospitals and other developmental works, the district committee leaders insisted that I spend this amount for panchayat elections. I cannot abide by the party’s dictate on the MP fund. It is meant for public welfare and should be used for it.’’Paramanik also accused the leadership of following dictatorship within the party. ‘‘They say it’s democratic centralism. But it’s more centralism than democracy. It’s actually dictatorship,’’ he added.However, CPI(M) leaders did not give any reaction on Paramanik’s charges. A state party leader, on condition of anonymity, said Paramanik had not been on cordial terms with the party leadership quite some time. For the past one-and-a-half-year he had almost been marginalised in the party and last year, he was even asked to quit from the party’s district committee. He just took the approaching panchayat elections as an opportunity to quit.
