WB: Battle gets ugly as campaigning heats up

Agencies

Jalpaiguri, 16 April 2011: Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s battle cry is for change in north Bengal with an eye on Left Front’s stronghold Jalpaiguri. Going to polls on the April 18, it is a prelude to Bengal’s most decisive election fought over six phases.

 

Out of the 12 assembly constituencies Congress only managed one in the 2006, while TMC drew a blank with CPM holding a clear sway.Trinamool Congress chief Mamata banerjee said, "Don’t vote for independents. Don’t vote for BJP, ensure you only vote for Cong and TMC. We don’t want any votes to be split."

 

As Mamata Banerjee’s juggernaut rolls out, the Left seems to have hit a red-end in Jalpaiguri. It looks like the tea tribes of Jagalguri are drifting away from the Left.

 

The adivasis are now going to contest the elections for the first time - under Shibu Soren’s JMM banner.

 

Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad general secretary Tej Kumar Toppo said, "We are contesting elections for the first time because we want our voices to be heard. We want the voices of the tea workers heard in the assembly."

 

About 54 seats are at stake in the first phase of Bengal polls - where ethnic idenity predominantly overrides the political identity of the voters making it one of the most complex elections that would be fought where apart from TMC - Congress and the CPM it will be the smaller players which will hold the key.