Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s worst fears appear to be coming true. A grassroots-level survey by the party has projected disaster for the ruling Left Front in West Bengal in the 2011 assembly elections.
The survey was conducted recently in all the 294 assembly constituencies of the state to gauge the electorate’s mood. Besides using its own network, CPI(M) sourced confidential reports from the political intelligence wings of the intelligence and special branches of state police.
The findings were frustrating for the Left Front, especially CPI(M). The survey revealed only around 75 of the 294 constituencies could be considered safe for CPI(M), while around 25 were marginal, that is they can go either way - to main opposition Trinamool Congress or CPI(M).
In the remaining 194 constituencies, according to the survey, the opposition is way ahead of the Left.
A district-wise breakup of the Left Front’s possible performance in the 2011 assembly elections showed it suffering hefty losses in East Midnapore, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Paragans, Hooghly, Kolkata, Howrah, Murshidabad, Maldah, North Dinajpur and Darjeeling. In all these districts, the opposition is likely to register landslide victories.
The wind is blowing strongly in favour of Trinamool Congress in East Midnapore, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Paragans, Hooghly, Kolkata and Howrah, while alliance partner Congress is leading in Murshidabad, Maldah and North Dinajpur. In Darjeeling, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-backed BJP is the frontrunner.
Burdwan, West Midanpore, Bankura and Purulia continue to be safe for the Left Front, but that could change if Trinamool and Maoists strike a clandestine deal, the survey revealed. The said districts are Maoist strongholds.
Ministers Asim Dasgupta (finance), Nirupam Sen (industry & commerce), Asok Bhattacharjee (urban development) and Kshiti Goswami (PWD) may lose heavily. As per the survey, even the constituency of chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has become a marginal seat.
