Left Wiped Out Completely In Bengal In Lok Sabha Polls

By Pallab Ghosh

The results of the 15 Lok Sabha by and large is an alarm for the political parties and politicians taking democracy and electorate for granted and feel winning elections is all about promises and rhetoric but lest they forget that jugglery of words can no longer keep the electorates happy as they are now politically conscious and want responsible government that will listen to them. Well, this is what exactly happened to the Left in the West Bengal which seems to turn a deaf ear to the furor of the people against the atrocities of the red brigade. It may not be known to many especially outside Bengal that those who work in Kolkata would even give up their jobs and return to villages during elections not fearing of the consequences as their house would be torched. Family members killed. Women gang raped and killed as it happened to Tapasi Mallik in Singur. There are yet many instances when the CPI (M) crossed all barriers of decency. Biman Bose, chairman, Left Front verbally assaulted Justice Amitava Lala’s order of banning rallies and processions between 8 am and 8 pm on working days, stating that “Lala Kolkata chere pala” (Lala leave Kolkata and go away).

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The verdict 2009 is a clear indication that the people of West Bengal wants to get rid of the clutches of the red brigade which did nothing in terms of developmental work but have ruined the walls of democracy in the state. For the first time in the history of 32 years electorates have spoken their minds and have decided to elect Trinamool Congress and send to parliament. These trends may be a warm up note which clearly shows that the forth coming assembly election in 2011 could make things difficult for the Left and its allies as people have learnt to express. The Left could secure only

The defeat may come as unexpected for the CPI (M) which was confidant of its winning the elections has compelled the Left to analyze the reasons behind the unprecedented defeat. “We are unable to understand what went wrong and people gave their verdict against us which we accept with full humility”, said Biman Bose in Kolkata on Saturday. To discuss the reasons and future strategies a high level Polit Bureu meeting will take place on Monday in New Delhi. However, many apprehend that Prakash Karat may have to reply to many unanswered questions among the party workers who have pointed fingers towards him for the poor results. Among the bigwigs who have lost in this election in the state includes Amitabh Nandi from Dum Dum and Mohd. Salim from Kolkata north east.

The people of west Bengal who remained a mute spectator to the atrocities of the Left especially during the fiasco in Nandigram and Singur over the Tata Nano project found impossible to accept the way in which Karat issued statements in public over the Nuke deal causing an embarrassment to Dr. Manmohan Singh and finally pulling the support compelling the UPA Government to seek vote of confidence on the floor of the house. Karat and the Left went a step ahead and decided to expel Somnath Chatterjee, Speaker of the house and a veteran communist leader for not giving in to their demand and tender his resignation over the issue. “Well, the Somnath issue may have hurt the sentiments of the Bengali people and decided to take on the Left in the elections”, said Sandip Bose, psephologist in Kolkata. The clean image of Budhadeb Bhattacharya, Chief Minister, West Bengal turned uncouth when he turned his back on violence taking place in Nandigram by the cadre unleashed and was on a rampant in the village. The gang rape of Tapasi Mallik was the last straw to break camel’s back. However, the worse came when a group of prominent intellectuals who gathered to protest against the Nandigram fiasco and was badly manhandled by the police. Even Medha Patkar was not soared and was dragged by her hair which was not only condemned but many intellectuals but also felt ashamed to be a part of the CPI (M). However, the incident that shook the people of the state and may have motivated them to vote against the Red brigade was the Rizwanur Rehman case which indicated the hands of the Bhattacahrya trying to help businessman Ashok Todi, the accused, to hush up the case in connivance with then Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee. Rizwanur was found murdered on the railway tracks in north Kolkata.

However, the verdict of the people clearly indicated that the people want change and get rid of the Red brigade. The Trinamool Congress registered a significant win in the elections. “We won’t press for any ministerial birth at the center and would accept whatever is given to us. I am happy that the people have voted for change and I am confidant that we will be able to wipe out the Left”, said Mamta Bannerjee, Trinamool Congress chief in Kolkata. For Mamata Bannerjee though, this victory is just the semi finals as her eyes firm on the assembly election scheduled to take place in 2011 and she is quite confidant of sweeping the polls. “Mamata will have to understand the sentiments of the people who have elected her and want her to stay at the center and work for the development of Bengal. She should realize that her being in the ministry would generate employment opportunities for unemployed in Bengal”, Shibu, shopkeeper in Kolkata.