cpi-m-in-west-bengal-hopes-to-gain-ground-in-2024-ls-polls

The CPI(M) is hoping for a turnaround in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal after a barren outcome in 2019, maintaining that the results will depend on the people being able to freely exercise their franchise.

 

Claiming that the people have seen through the “hollow” promises made by the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, CPI(M) central committee member and candidate from Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency Sujan Chakraborty said that the “red flag” is there when no one else is believed to be trustworthy.

 

“If people can exercise their franchise freely, then there will be a reflection of that in the results,” he told sources.

 

Elections in West Bengal, where poll-related violence has been in the focus for long, will be held in seven phases with the highest number of central security forces.

 

Several companies of central forces were sent to the state by the Election Commission as a confidence-building measure even before the polls were announced.

 

The CPI(M)-led Left Front, which ruled the state for 34 years till 2011, could not win any seat in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and also in the 2021 assembly elections.

 

Having started preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections quite early, the Communist Party of India(Marxist) has been trying to make a mark in every major issue arising in West Bengal, from protests over atrocities on villagers in Sandeshkhali by ruling TMC leaders and their associates to livelihood and jobs for youths.

 

It is hopeful of winning some seats this time around after what it claimed to be a fair showing in the 2023 panchayat polls and the municipal elections held earlier in the state despite alleged “electoral malpractices” by the ruling TMC.

 

Criss-crossing the state over the last several months, Chakraborty asserted that those who had reposed their trust in the TMC some 12 years ago, were now a dissatisfied lot.

 

“With their backs against the wall, people’s fear has now turned into anger,” Chakraborty, a former CPI(M) MP from Jadavpur, said.

The veteran CPI(M) leader said that a section of voters, who had turned to the BJP in the 2019 general elections and the 2021 assembly polls, were returning to the Left parties.