Thaindian News

Kolkata, May 14 (IANS) “Rajye palabadal” (change of regime in state) - thus read the grudging banner headline in Ganashakti, the Communist Party of India-Marxist’s (CPI-M) mouthpiece, the morning after the 34-year-old Left Front government was swept out of West Bengal by the people’s mandate.

It was a “very different” Saturday for people in the eastern state, where only some time back few would have believed that the CPI-M-led Left Front can be defeated.

Banker T.P. Dutta expressed the popular sentiment: “A first time voter in 1977, when the Left Front came to power, would now be all of 55 years. That means from his early youth to the fag end of his professional life he has seen only the comrades in office. He has seen the same faces in the newspapers and on television channels deciding policies on all issues.” In 1977, the minimum age of voting was 21. It is 18 years now.

An editorial in the party’s Bengali daily Ganashakti termed the poll results as “unexpected” but admitted that the people have “brought to an end the Left Front rule”.

However, it tried to boost the morale of the cadre by saying the Left will take up people’s issues that are bound to come up in the coming days as the masses come under “more vigorous attack” due to liberalisation and privatisation.

“New areas of struggle will emerge. Then the Leftists will start new chapters of struggle by being with the suffering masses.”

“The anti-people policies have to be defeated through that fight.”

The editorial also expressed concern whether the interests of the toiling masses would be protected under the new Congress-Trinamool Congress dispensation.

“The political forces which are set to govern the state now after 34 years, have a past which is synonymous with semi-fascist terror and anti-people policies.

“So there is concern over the protection of the rights of the people, particularly the working and impoverished classes,” the daily said.