West Bengal: CPM’s Left allies angry over Congress pact

There are few takers for the BJP’s much-hyped plank of “nationalism” in West Bengal, and Left unity there has taken a hit after the CPI(M) decided to join forces with the Congress. The Forward Bloc is seething over the CPI(M)’s move to team up with the Congress, while the RSP intends to make its stand clear on Tuesday.

Struggling to stay in the race in West Bengal, the state BJP is looking at “Modi’s charisma” to make its presence felt. The Prime Minister is expected to address 10 rallies in the state, starting from March 26 in Kharagpur.

For the BJP, “nationalism” has emerged as its main plank in both Assam and West Bengal. Given the dominance of Muslims in both states, the BJP has decided to drum up its “nationalism” agenda and focus on the infiltration issue. In West Bengal, however, there appears to be few takers for this. While the BJP is playing hard on the infiltration issue and blending it with nationalism, voters appear to be largely indifferent to the issue, including the emotive slogan of “Bharat Mata ki jai”.

The BJP claimed at its just-concluded national executive in New Delhi that “Bharat Mata ki jai” is “not a mere slogan” but the “heartbeat of a billion Indians”, but despite this aggressive show of nationalism, party insiders in West Bengal say this has failed to move the masses in the state.

Struggling to remain in the race, the BJP West Bengal unit is now looking to the charisma of PM Narendra Modi, who is expected to address 10 rallies starting March 26 in Kharagpur.

Left unity in West Bengal has run into trouble with the smaller parties angry with the CPI(M) for its alliance with the Congress. The Forward Bloc and RSP have raised strong objections. It was learnt that at a recently Left Front meeting, the Forward Bloc and RSP felt Congress MLAs may defect to the Trinamul Congress after the polls. It was pointed out that 11 Congress MLAs had switched over to Trinamul in 2012. The RSP intends to make its stand clear over the CPI(M)’s move on Tuesday.

The Forward Bloc and RSP are also unhappy over the CPI(M)’s plans to hold joint rallies with the Congress, which they feel would send a “wrong signal” to the electorate.