Cong., Left Spar as WB Polls Near
At present, the absence of a clear decision has added to speculation and uncertainty within the Opposition camp
New Delhi: As the West Bengal Assembly elections draw closer, sharp differences within the Opposition, particularly between the Congress and the Left, have once again come to the fore, underscoring the uncertainty over any possible alliance in the state. While the CPM has signalled its readiness to continue cooperation with the Congress, the latter is deeply divided, with its state unit firmly opposed to any tie-up with the Left Front.
The CPM, at its recently concluded central committee meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, cleared the decks for an alliance with the Congress as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Opposition unity against the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) and the BJP. Party leaders indicated that tactical alliances are necessary in states where the Left’s organisational strength has waned, and where a united Opposition could prevent further consolidation of power by the ruling party.
However, the Congress’ West Bengal unit has taken a sharply different view. State leaders have conveyed to the party’s central leadership they are “thoroughly against” any electoral understanding with the CPM and have pressed for discontinuing the decade-old alliance with the Left Front. According to senior leaders in the state unit, the alliance has yielded diminishing returns and has failed to arrest the Congress’ steady electoral decline in West Bengal.
The state leadership argues that the Congress’ traditional voter base has been eroded partly due to its association with the Left, which governed the state for over three decades before being voted out in 2011. Several leaders believe that continuing the alliance prevents the party from rebuilding its independent political identity and organisational structure in a highly polarised political landscape dominated by the TMC and the BJP.
While the Congress had partnered with the TMC in 2011, when the Left Front was dislodged from power after 34 years of uninterrupted rule, it joined hands with the Left within five years. Since 2016, the Congress has fought two Assembly elections and one Lok Sabha election as an alliance partner of the Left, only to remain a struggling, marginal force in state politics.
At present, the absence of a clear decision has added to speculation and uncertainty within the Opposition camp. With elections approaching, the lack of consensus threatens to delay any seat-sharing talks and campaign planning of the parties if they want to contest together.