NEW DELHI: The left parties are optimistic of an alliance with the Congress for the coming Assembly election in West Bengal but want the tie-up to be based on a Common Minimum Programme (CMP).
The Left wants to reclaim its stature in national politics by a strong electoral performance in West Bengal which it had ruled for more than three decades at stretch.
Although the election in the state is due in April-May next year, the issue of Left-Congress has got currency with the possibility of fire-brand Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury being made head of the state.
He has publicly expressed an inclination to do business with the Left.
Positioning Chowdhury, who is a known critic of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is seen as a strong political intent by Congress leadership.
With BJP on the ascent in West Bengal, and the ruling TMC reportedly launching a drive to connect with voters, the Left wants to bang the bush regarding its strategy so as not to be left behind.
“Unlike the last assembly election, there will be no ambiguity for the coming assembly election,” a Left leader said.
A section of Left leaders rue their failure to send a clear-cut message in the last assembly election which cost them.
Due to contradictions within the CPI(M), which heads the Left Front in West Bengal, the Left’s electoral tie-up with the Congress was passed off as “understanding”.
While party leaders from Kerala were dead-set against the party doing any business with the Congress, the majority of party leaders from West Bengal thought otherwise.
A modus vivendi, which was a compromise of sorts, was worked out through an “understanding”.
In the analysis of leaders of Left parties, while their cadre ensured transference of votes to Congress nominees, the same was not reciprocated.
On the other hand, BJP has reportedly launched a drive to micro-manage voters.
“Mamata Banerjee will be ousted by voters,” Arvind Menon, a BJP co-in-charge of West Bengal said.
“The TMC government is wide-ranging anti-incumbency, and the Left and Congress are discredited and spent-force in West Bengal,” BJP West Bengal president Dilip Gosh said.