Rabin first strike in Mamata lair

KOLKATA: Rabin Deb''s way of going into battle: start from the rival''s hometurf. So it is was that he stepped into Harish Park — near Mamata Banerjee''s home — to launch his poll blitz.
By 6.30 am on Friday, Deb''s Salt Lake residence was bustling with party workers and supporters.
An hour later, bundles of papers, files and documents were carried out to the Tata Sumo waiting outside, as Deb, the CPM''s Kolkata South candidate, had his staple breakfast of curd and puffed rice.
"All these are newspaper clippings and constituency data that has collected. He will go over them again on the way," said Deb''s close aide Ashim Guha Roy.
At 8 am, Deb gets into his car and zooms off towards EM Bypass.
"The four wards in Alipore are the most tough ones in my constituency. I have vowed to turn the swing for Left Front. The last 15 days of campaigning will be decisive," he says, as the Sumo pulls up near Harish Park, where hundreds have gathered with flags and banners. Deb starts to tour Ward 73 on foot.
Curious faces peek from windows, people come out to greet Deb as the procession meanders through Gopal Banerjee Street, Kedar Bose Lane, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road and Madan Pal lane before entering Harish Chatterjee Street, Mamata''s address.
Rabin takes a break at the zonal committee office. Rosogollas and black tea are polished off over discussion on voter profile. 11.45 am. Deb heads for Assembly House, where he goes through documents relating to NDA and Trinamul. "I have to meet students at Hazra Law College.
Preparation is must," he says. It was well that he prepared for questions flew thick and fast at the college. Deb is an instant hit with the students. Amid loud cheers he leaves for Bhowanipur.
"I will wrap up the day at 8 pm," he says, before fading away around a corner of Mahim Halder Street with his supporters.