Abstract
This paper raises two questions. (1) How does one explain the massive mandate given to the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front on industrialisation in the West Bengal assembly elections of 2006 receiving a setback from the same electorate in panchayat elections of 2008, just two years later? (2) Did the primary contradiction lie between the practice of rigid democratic centralism of the Community Party of India (Marxist) and the logic of democratic devolution of power of the panchayati raj institutions, or between agriculture and industry in a predominantly small peasant economy? It is argued that the primary contradiction lay in the pervasive political oppression of the hegemon, in the manner in which land was acquired rather than in the acquisition of agricultural lands per se.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
