Thiruvananthapuram: Both KPCC and the state unit of CPM are on the same page on the issue of electoral understanding between the two parties in the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly polls.
During Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to Thiruvananthapuram, the state Congress had conveyed its strong opposition to any understanding with the CPM in Bengal. Both the CPM and KPCC leadership though are citing varied reasons for opposing the electoral understanding, they are actually wary of its fallout in Kerala especially in view of BJP’s strong bid to emerge as an alternative.
They say the political situation in the state has changed since 1990’s when Left had electoral adjustment with the Congress in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the 2004 UPA experiment. If the BJP which has become a force to reckon with in the state along with Vellapally’s BDJS manage to win some seats, they could emerge as deciding factor should there be a close finish.
Such a situation is not being ruled out completely by the Left especially in the light of significant gains made by BJP in panchayats and municipalities.
The tie up with Congress in Bengal could offer a major campaign plank to BJP. The party will expose CPM-Congress tie-up to project itself as the real alternative particularly in its strong pockets in Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad and Kasargod and with the aid of BDJS in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta.
Political observers say despite the opposition being registered by the state units, the central leadership of the CPM and Congress is unlikely to give in. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan are not against electoral understanding between the two parties in Bengal.
Under these circumstances, the CPM central committee is likely to coin an apt expression to camouflage the electoral understanding in Bengal which has become a political necessity in the face of Mamata onslaught.
