No doubt there is a churning process on in West Bengal, against CPM

The local bodies polls results too reflects the losing grip of the CPM among the electorate in West Bengal. Something has gone wrong for that party in the state as evidenced by the setback in the last Lok Sabha elections and now the municipal polls.

Politburo member M.K.Pandhe has pointed out that the CPM registered better performance in the municipal elections than in the previous Lok Sabha elections. It may have marginal gains, which do not justify continuation of the people’s mandate.
However, the Forward Bloc, a partner of the Left Front, is not in agreement with the argument that the outcome of the municipal polls would have no relevance to the ensuing Assembly elections.

Stormy petrel Mamata Banerjee all alone, ditching the Congress, has achieved this feat of conquering the CPM at its bastion. The fact that the CPM is facing a sort of rout in a State which was its total fiefdom for three decades continuously is really stunning.

It appears stop-gap changes and acceptance of support from elements in an indirect way may not help the party very much. But no one can blame the party for looking at all avenues to shore up its lost ground.

Constitutionally, the Left Front Government can cling on for nearly a year for the Assembly elections. Calling for snap polls or not vests entirely within the prerogative of the ruling front.