04-26-2009, 06:27 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Left could go down to 22 seats in Bengal</b>
pioneer.com
Kanchan Gupta | Kolkata
<b>Muslims, one in 3 voters, desert CPM</b>
As people in West Bengal prepare to vote on April 30 in the first of three rounds of polling for the 15th Lok Sabha, <b>the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front faces what could turn out to be its worst-ever electoral performance.</b>
According to conservative estimates cutting across party lines, the<b> Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance could notch up an impressive tally of 14 to 17 of the 42 seats in the State.</b> If the popular mood prevailing from north to south Bengal is any indication, <b>the Opposition could end up winning anything between 18 and 20 seats.</b>
Whatever the final tally, there is mounting apprehension at Alimuddin Street, where the CPI(M)âs headquarters is located, that the Marxists will suffer a setback worse than that of<b> 1984 when the Congress won 16 seats in the election that followed Indira Gandhiâs assassination</b>.
In that election, the Left suffered reverses in urban areas. <b>This time, the losses are stacking up in rural constituencies. The projected losses are largely concentrated in south Bengal where the Trinamool Congress is running an aggressive campaign.</b>
Little over a fortnight ago, the CPI(M)âs election strategists were horrified to find that the Left Frontâs 2004 tally of 35 seats was at risk of being whittled down to 20 to 22 seats.
All hands were called to deck and a massive effort was launched to paper over differences within the CPI(M) and between the party and its allies in the Left Front. Simultaneously, zonal and local committees were asked to reach out to disgruntled party supporters who were toying with the idea of voting against the Left. Third, the counter-attack on the Trinamool Congress was sharpened, focusing on Mamata Banerjee's inability to come up with a positive agenda<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I still think rigging will help commies.
pioneer.com
Kanchan Gupta | Kolkata
<b>Muslims, one in 3 voters, desert CPM</b>
As people in West Bengal prepare to vote on April 30 in the first of three rounds of polling for the 15th Lok Sabha, <b>the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front faces what could turn out to be its worst-ever electoral performance.</b>
According to conservative estimates cutting across party lines, the<b> Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance could notch up an impressive tally of 14 to 17 of the 42 seats in the State.</b> If the popular mood prevailing from north to south Bengal is any indication, <b>the Opposition could end up winning anything between 18 and 20 seats.</b>
Whatever the final tally, there is mounting apprehension at Alimuddin Street, where the CPI(M)âs headquarters is located, that the Marxists will suffer a setback worse than that of<b> 1984 when the Congress won 16 seats in the election that followed Indira Gandhiâs assassination</b>.
In that election, the Left suffered reverses in urban areas. <b>This time, the losses are stacking up in rural constituencies. The projected losses are largely concentrated in south Bengal where the Trinamool Congress is running an aggressive campaign.</b>
Little over a fortnight ago, the CPI(M)âs election strategists were horrified to find that the Left Frontâs 2004 tally of 35 seats was at risk of being whittled down to 20 to 22 seats.
All hands were called to deck and a massive effort was launched to paper over differences within the CPI(M) and between the party and its allies in the Left Front. Simultaneously, zonal and local committees were asked to reach out to disgruntled party supporters who were toying with the idea of voting against the Left. Third, the counter-attack on the Trinamool Congress was sharpened, focusing on Mamata Banerjee's inability to come up with a positive agenda<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I still think rigging will help commies.