Tie, water may derail TMC’s plans in Purulia

Kolkata: The alliance seems to have changed the ruling Trinamool Congress’ gameplan in at least six seats in Purulia. No one pre-empted the impact of ‘jote’ better than Mamata Banerjee, who attended the highest number of meetings and road shows in Purulia. This is an all-time record for any chief minister in Bengal.
As per the 2014 Lok Sabha election results, the alliance is either ahead of the Trinamool or breathing down its neck.
“It’s not merely a Left-Congress coalition but a rainbow alliance, where several smaller parties have joined spontaneously, making it a formidable political force. We will not be surprised if the scene changes this time,” said Purulia alliance candidate Sudip Mukherjee (Kaltu).
Water is another prickly issue that may upset the poll arithmetic. With sweltering heat sweeping across the districts of Purulia and Bankura and riverbeds resembling desert dunes, people are getting impatient. Though the chief minister, with her speeches focusing on water, tried to sooth the frayed nerves of voters, her rally route was blocked twice by Purulia villagers. The opposition was quick to make it a poll issue.
Trinamool leaders wonder how a typical issue for municipal or panchayat polls can take the centre stage ahead of the assembly polls. “People will get water as the projects here are nearing completion,” said Purulia MLA and municipal chairman K P Singh Deo, whose son Dibyojyoti is now a Trinamool candidate.
But, the dry zones are expanding fast. Mamata Banerjee had asked everywhere in Purulia and Bankura, “Jol pachchen? (Are you getting water?)”. The reply was a thunderous ‘no’. This made her explain that water is not far from their doorstep.
But the ground reality is different. Purulia municipality has bored several wells on the dry riverbed of Kansai to lift water. But the depletion of underground water level is faster than what could be perceived. Purulia town now houses two newly-constructed reservoirs, which still remain dry. “The possibility of getting water at these reservoirs appears remote. It seems the underground pipeline has been laid at a faulty level,” said a Purulia municipality officer.