On Bengal elections, Left's Yechury highlights CPI-M's dual battle with BJP & Mamata's TMC

Addressing media after attending party state committee meeting, CPI(M)'s General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Monday that prime objective of his party is to defeat BJP in upcoming West Bengal polls. He also pointed out that CPI(M) which once ruled state, is banking on strong anti-incumbency sentiment prevailing against Mamata Banerjee's government. He said that CPI(M) would t go closer to TMC in ir pursuit of keeping BJP away as this would alienate people from Left party. In upcoming elections, left parties including CPI(M) are in alliance with Congress. Yechury also said that people remember time when it had an alliance with saffron party and its leaders served as ministers in BJP- led NDA coalition.

Yechury said that apart from Congress, Marxists will also have an understanding with n-Left allies like NCP and RJD in Bengal elections, adding that preliminary discussions have taken place with Congrees and seat adjustment process is on. He said, " anti-incumbency sentiment against TMC government runs so deep and so large that any unity of all anti-BJP forces will only help BJP more. It will be counter-productive. People have great anger against TMC. Aligning with Trinamool will refore only turn people against us and help BJP." He said BJP and TMC are trying to turn approaching elections in Bengal as bipolar event, but forces opposed to m would "rupture" this. "Our objective is to defeat BJP and isolate TMC. issue is wher lives of people can be bettered after polls. On that issue, re is solution from eir BJP or TMC," he said.

Electoral standing of CPI(M) and Congress in Bengal

Mamata Banerjee had demolished left bastion in state in 2011 and since n she is on chief ministerial chair. CPI(M) and its allies' slide continues in state politics and y failed to win even a single seat in Bengal in 2019 general elections. Congress mand two seats. BJP has replaced CPI(M) and Congress as principal opponent to Trinamool Congrerss in Bengal winning 18 out of total 42 Lok Sabha seats in state, only four less than TMC's tally of 22. Since n saffron party is making all efforts to win coming state polls and form its government in Bengal.

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TMC vs BJP in West Bengal

While BJP has chalked out a massive plan for upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls which includes Home Minister Amit Shah visiting state every month till elections, Trinamool has already begun its outreach programme highlighting welfare schemes of Mamata Banerjee government. TMC has also roped in former JDU VP and polls strategist Prashant Kishor for Mamata's re-election while BJP's campaign is being headed by senior leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, under leadership of BJP chief JP Nadda. VIolence has already started in state ahead of polls, with alleged TMC goons even attacking Nadda while he was on a two-day visit to state. Earlier, Dilip Ghosh had also asked his BJP cadre to arm mselves with sticks and give it back to Trinamool cadre if it comes to it.

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West Bengal assembly elections

West Bengal assembly with 294 seats will go to polls in April-May 2021, Trinamool holds 222 seats. BJP has made major inroads in state in Lok Sabha elections winning 18 seats and establishing itself as major opposition force in state. Recently TMC trumped BJP in all 3 bypolls but BJP is using its booth-level strategy, has placed its top leaders including Amit Shah and JP Nadda in state for winning upcoming elections.

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