Ragtag Oppn army to take on Buddha

Sourav Sanyal / TNN / Apr 26, 2006, 01:28 IST

Share

AA

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

While Congress is cagey about professing support to 'rival' Trinamul openly, Mamata's men are visibly upbeat.

Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's victory margin was 29,000 in the last Assembly election. This time 23,000 new voters have been added to the rolls in his constituency.
Reason enough for the Opposition to see a glimmer of hope albeit a faint one of taking the fight to CPM's door.
Home to 2.7 lakh voters, Jadavpur has returned Bhattacharjee to the Assembly four times (1987-2001).This time, the Opposition is cobbling together a ragtag mahajot to prevent the split of anti-Left votes.
Though Congress has fielded Omprakash Mishra, a sizable proportion of grassroots party workers have entered a tacit understanding of "extending full support" to Trinamul to ensure that the Left doesn't benefit from the splitting of votes.

While Congress is cagey about professing support to 'rival' Trinamul openly, Mamata's men are visibly upbeat. As Baghajatin block Trinamul president Jahar Das puts it, "Both parties have realised splitting of votes is no solution.
We have had lengthy meetings with Congress workers where they have assured us full support. Aamader jot hoye geche. Congress knows Trinamul is the only opposition."
The Left knows that too. Didi and her mahajot form the focal point of CPM ridicule during stage performances and para campaigning.

The Opposition is banking on three factors new voters, the upper middle class 'highrise' residents and EC's steps for free and fair polls. "If voting is free, CPM cannot retain this seat.
Last time, Bhattacharjee's margin was 29,000 votes which included hordes of bogus voters. People in highrises are thinking professionals who cannot be swayed by the hollow picture of shining Bengal.
In Jadavpur constituency four units Sulekha, Dabur, Krishna Glass and Annapurna have shut. The facts are for everyone to see," said Das.
The CM had admitted there were healthcare and drinking water problems in the area. Mishra says, "CPM has brought misery to Jadavpur. People here want change." He doesn't say a thing about Trinamul candidate Dipak Ghosh.
But Opposition may not have Jadavpur's pulse. It's, after all, Brand Buddha's home turf. As a 30-something resident of Calcutta Greens said, "Forget CPM. Buddhadeb is the man to look out for."

End of Article

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA