Aborted Alliance

With the Congress, the Trinamool and the BJP unable to forge a common front because of larger conflicts, the Left Front could secure a record seventh straight term

PICTURE SPEAK

SEPARATE PATHS: Banerjee and Congress's Subrata Mukherjee

That's because the party had other things to think of this time. Entering into an alliance with the BJP-made necessary by its potential partner, the Trinamool Congress (TC), refusing to quit the NDA-was unthinkable. Nor did the Congress want to risk losing the support of the Left Front to the UPA Government at the Centre. And that left the party in the dilemma of whether to join the alliance that dreams of ousting the 29-year-old Left Front government from West Bengal.

The alliance seemed likely even two months ago. A part of the Congress, led by A.B.A. Ghani Khan Chowdhury, had agreed to an informal seat-sharing in Malda, where the Congress had a small-though significant-tie-up with the BJP in the running of the zila parishad. If it could happen in one district of the state, it could happen elsewhere too, thought Congress leaders.

The election this year could have been perfect for them. The Congress had some of the big names that constituted a formidable Opposition in the last quarter of the last century, with the inclusion of national names like Pranab Mukherjee. Then there were Somen Mitra, Subrata Mukherjee and Sudip Bandyopadhyay. To top it all, it had Sonia Gandhi, a government at the Centre, and some aggressive policies by Manmohan Singh, which would really stand in its favour. The Election Commission's directives in ensuring a fair election were also set to work wonders for the Opposition's cause, for it is no secret that state polls had gradually become victims to what had been termed "scientific rigging" with the help of Left's cadres.

Some leaders believe that the alliance, if it takes place, could change the entire scenario. Senior Trinamool Congress leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay would like to back his claim with figures. "The Congress-TC alliance won 82 seats, and lost another 55-odd seats because the BJP ate into the Opposition votes. We would've had a majority in the Assembly in 2001," he says and adds that if the alliance of the three parties happens even after the election, the Opposition benches might get to see new faces. His claims are not entirely unfounded, for the past three elections have some interesting figures to show in terms of percentage of votes. The elections in the last decade had seen the Congress giving the CPI(M) a run for its votes. In the 1996 Assembly elections, it had received about 40 per cent of the votes, and in the one before that, about 35 per cent. Even in the 2001 elections, an alliance with TC had seen the combine securing 39 per cent votes. With the share of the BJP, which got about 6 to 7 per cent votes every time, thrown in, it could add up to a one-on-one contest with the Left.

In fact, so certain was Pradesh Congress chief Pranab Mukherjee of the alliance that he had even gone as far as announcing in a public meeting that TC chief Mamata Banerjee would be the chief ministerial candidate.

But then came the official diktat. Mukherjee announced in early March, after two rounds of talks with Banerjee, that ideological differences prevented them from being part of an alliance that included the BJP. However, the Left leaders know that if it hadn't been for them, nothing could've stopped the alliance. They also believe that the alliance wouldn't be of much consequence to them where a seventh consecutive term in the Assembly was concerned. "The only purpose of the alliance would be to show that the Left's position has weakened in West Bengal, which would be good news for the Congress," says CPI(M) leader Amitava Nandi.

If the alliance hasn't been forged yet, it isn't due to lack of efforts. AICC General secretary Margaret Alva, who is in charge of party affairs in West Bengal now, and Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi met Banerjee in March to arrive at an understanding. But the BJP would not let go of its NDA ally so easily. Arun Jaitley discussed seat-sharing with her, but her meeting ended inconclusively. Banerjee was even conspicuously absent at a rally to be addressed jointly by her, Jaitley and Rajnath Singh, a few weeks ago. Another meeting with George Fernandes two weeks ago wasn't really pleasant, owing to the latter's comment that he's glad the tie-up with the Congress didn't happen. That some local Congress leaders are upset that the alliance did not materialise is evident. "The big names have complicated matters. We fought among ourselves, and now, the Opposition votes have been divided between the Trinamool and us," says Amitabha Chakraborty, the state youth Congress president and a candidate from Burrabazar.

Some like Subrata Mukherjee believe that going alone is not such a bad idea for the Congress in the state. Mukherjee, who is contesting from his Chowringhee seat, which he has won twice, is optimistic about his own prospects. "We've done good work at the Centre," he says. Even so, the TC continues to hope for an alliance with the Congress after the elections, if not before.