There is absolutely no chance of a turnaround in the Left Front’s fortunes and it should prepare itself to occupy the Opposition benches after the next Assembly elections. This prophecy of doom was made not by Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, but by a Left Front partner, West Bengal Socialist Party chief Kirnamoy Nanda. His
party has now merged with the Samajwadi Party. Mr Nanda also strongly criticised the Operation Greenhunt against the Maoists in the Jangalmahal. He said that the joint operation had resulted in persecution of common people while the Maoists have remained unaffected.
Commenting on the recent Left Front debacle in the civic polls, Mr Nanda said that this was because there had been a huge erosion in the Left Front’s support base. “Our main vote bank: the farmers have deserted us,” he added. Rubbing salt to the wounds of the major partner, he said that the CPI(M) offices in his Assembly constituency were put under lock and key. “When we cannot open our party office and when our supporters are terror-stricken, then how can we expect any turnaround?” he asked.
A day before the crucial Left Front meeting in which the civic poll rout is to be discussed, Mr Nanda’s explosive statement was highly significant.
Only 24 hours earlier, another Left Front partner Forward Bloc had expressed fears that the Assembly polls may be held as early as in November. Mr Nandu, interestingly, did not foresee early elections but he suggested that the Left Front should be reconciled to its fate. “In democracy, it always happens that the rulers become Opposition and the Opposition becomes rulers. Therefore, we should contest the 2011 Assembly elections fully prepared to play the role of the Opposition,” he added.
Mr Nanda was speaking at the conclusion of the state committee meeting of his party.