Change: After 34 years of uninterrupted Left rule, for the first time, Bengal will be going to the assembly polls with this one word — "change" — writ large on the minds of the 56 million-strong electorate. The extreme polarisation in terms of voter sentiment is likely to be the biggest factor in this make-or-break elections for both, Left Front and Trinamool Congress.
Industrialisation and the Singur-Nandigram factor: Backed by a two-thirds majority in the 2006 assembly polls, the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya-led Left Front government had put industrialisation on the fast track. Ironically, it is this very policy of having industrialisation as the top priority that has resulted in the Left losing a sizeable section of its rural, agrarian voter base to rival Trinamool. While there is nothing wrong in promoting industries, where Bhattacharya lost the plot was the implementation part — a rushed job, without having done the requisite home work.
Law and order and the Maoist scourge: From Darjeeling to Sunderbans, from villages in Burdwan to Kolkata suburbs, the law and order situation has only got worse over the last three decades. Maoist violence in the districts bordering Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa, has left an unprecedented trail of gore. Whoever forms the next government, containing bloodshed and addressing the issue of Maoist violence will have to be dealt with an iron fist.
Comatose economy: What the seventh Left Front government is leaving behind for its successor is a bankrupt legacy. A Rs2.25 trillion (Dh187.5 billion) debt burden can severely cripple the options for the next government. It will be extremely difficult for the new government to balance the demands of pursuing a pragmatic economic policy on one hand and satisfying the craving for offering a populist government on the other.
All eyes on
Jadavpur
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya (CPM): Chief Minister and sitting MLA from this prestigious south Kolkata constituency, known as a CPM stronghold since 1977. However, during last year's Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections, Left Front was trailing in six of the ten wards that fall under this assembly seat.
Manish Gupta (Trinamool): Former home and chief secretary of the state. He had worked under three chief ministers - Siddhartha Shankar Ray, Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Gupta may have a tough time, though, given that Bhattacharya has focused all his strength and energy on this one seat, so far in campaigning.
Dum Dum
Gautam Deb (CPM): State Minister for Housing and CPM's most prominent mascot for these elections. In 2006, Deb was elected from Bashirhat in South 24 Parganas. However, given Trinamool's strong support base in South 24 Parganas, Deb was moved to Dum Dum. But it may not be a cake walk.
Bratya Basu (Trinamool): This noted theatre personality was among the group of intellectuals who had met the prime minister and president in January, seeking action against the Left Front government, following the killings of nine innocent villagers by CPM-sheltered goons in Netai village. Basu's apolitical background may help tilt the scales in favour of Trinamool in this seat.
Burdwan South
Nirupam Sen (CPM): The Industries Minister and a CPM politburo member. He is one of the most formidable faces within the party and government. However, if the pre-poll mood in Burdwan district is any indicator, then this seat may throw up quite a surprise and it may not be to Sen's liking. With Trinamool making steady inroads in the once-Red citadel of Burdwan, Sen's task seems cut out.
Rabiranjan Chatterjee (Trinamool): An academic by profession, his clean image and apolitical background can give Trinamool an upper hand in this seat that has been CPM's happy hunting ground for decades. By all means, the result of this seat is likely to have a far-reaching impact on state politics in the days ahead.
Khardaha
Asim Dasgupta (CPM): The State Finance Minister is one of the longest serving ministers in India today. However, with Bengal reeling under severe debt crisis, Dasgupta is likely to have a tough time at the hustings. Moreover, CPM's fast eroding popularity in the industrial belts of Bengal has further queered the pitch for Dasgupta, an MIT graduate.
Amit Mitra (Trinamool): A Phd in Economics from Duke University (US) and former secretary-general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Mitra's USP is his deep-rooted knowledge of Indian economy and that can help breathe some fresh air into Bengal's present financial squalor.
Raidighi
Kanti Ganguly (CPM): A heavyweight politician by all means. The Sports Minister is one of those candidates whom CPI (M) can rely on even in the face of a populist wave in favour of the opposition.
Debashree Roy (Trinamool): An extremely popular face in Bengali cinema and a successful professional by her own right. However, she has a mountain to climb in this seat.
Industrialisation and the Singur-Nandigram factor: Backed by a two-thirds majority in the 2006 assembly polls, the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya-led Left Front government had put industrialisation on the fast track. Ironically, it is this very policy of having industrialisation as the top priority that has resulted in the Left losing a sizeable section of its rural, agrarian voter base to rival Trinamool. While there is nothing wrong in promoting industries, where Bhattacharya lost the plot was the implementation part — a rushed job, without having done the requisite home work.
Law and order and the Maoist scourge: From Darjeeling to Sunderbans, from villages in Burdwan to Kolkata suburbs, the law and order situation has only got worse over the last three decades. Maoist violence in the districts bordering Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa, has left an unprecedented trail of gore. Whoever forms the next government, containing bloodshed and addressing the issue of Maoist violence will have to be dealt with an iron fist.
Comatose economy: What the seventh Left Front government is leaving behind for its successor is a bankrupt legacy. A Rs2.25 trillion (Dh187.5 billion) debt burden can severely cripple the options for the next government. It will be extremely difficult for the new government to balance the demands of pursuing a pragmatic economic policy on one hand and satisfying the craving for offering a populist government on the other.
All eyes on
Jadavpur
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya (CPM): Chief Minister and sitting MLA from this prestigious south Kolkata constituency, known as a CPM stronghold since 1977. However, during last year's Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections, Left Front was trailing in six of the ten wards that fall under this assembly seat.
Manish Gupta (Trinamool): Former home and chief secretary of the state. He had worked under three chief ministers - Siddhartha Shankar Ray, Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Gupta may have a tough time, though, given that Bhattacharya has focused all his strength and energy on this one seat, so far in campaigning.
Dum Dum
Gautam Deb (CPM): State Minister for Housing and CPM's most prominent mascot for these elections. In 2006, Deb was elected from Bashirhat in South 24 Parganas. However, given Trinamool's strong support base in South 24 Parganas, Deb was moved to Dum Dum. But it may not be a cake walk.
Bratya Basu (Trinamool): This noted theatre personality was among the group of intellectuals who had met the prime minister and president in January, seeking action against the Left Front government, following the killings of nine innocent villagers by CPM-sheltered goons in Netai village. Basu's apolitical background may help tilt the scales in favour of Trinamool in this seat.
Burdwan South
Nirupam Sen (CPM): The Industries Minister and a CPM politburo member. He is one of the most formidable faces within the party and government. However, if the pre-poll mood in Burdwan district is any indicator, then this seat may throw up quite a surprise and it may not be to Sen's liking. With Trinamool making steady inroads in the once-Red citadel of Burdwan, Sen's task seems cut out.
Rabiranjan Chatterjee (Trinamool): An academic by profession, his clean image and apolitical background can give Trinamool an upper hand in this seat that has been CPM's happy hunting ground for decades. By all means, the result of this seat is likely to have a far-reaching impact on state politics in the days ahead.
Khardaha
Asim Dasgupta (CPM): The State Finance Minister is one of the longest serving ministers in India today. However, with Bengal reeling under severe debt crisis, Dasgupta is likely to have a tough time at the hustings. Moreover, CPM's fast eroding popularity in the industrial belts of Bengal has further queered the pitch for Dasgupta, an MIT graduate.
Amit Mitra (Trinamool): A Phd in Economics from Duke University (US) and former secretary-general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Mitra's USP is his deep-rooted knowledge of Indian economy and that can help breathe some fresh air into Bengal's present financial squalor.
Raidighi
Kanti Ganguly (CPM): A heavyweight politician by all means. The Sports Minister is one of those candidates whom CPI (M) can rely on even in the face of a populist wave in favour of the opposition.
Debashree Roy (Trinamool): An extremely popular face in Bengali cinema and a successful professional by her own right. However, she has a mountain to climb in this seat.
