Mishra admits to shift in LF votes to BJP

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A day after its poor show in the by-poll to Kanthi Dakshin assembly seat in West Bengal, CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra today admitted that LF supporters may have voted for BJP which resulted in the defeat of the Left party.
"It seems that the Left supporters who had voted for our candidates earlier have not voted for us this time. They are so desperate in removing Trinamool Congress that they opted to vote for BJP," Mishra told reporters here.
"Not only the Left Front supporters but voters of other parties, including those from the ruling party where there is internal feud have voted for BJP," he said.

The LF candidate Uttam Pradhan of CPI came a distant third in the by-poll after winners TMC and BJP, who emerged second, and lost his deposit.
Describing the rise of BJP in Bengal in the last couple of years as "dangerous", Mishra held the ruling TMC responsible for it.
"The rise of BJP is nation-wide and it is also happening in the state, which is quite dangerous. Their (BJP) rise is dangerous for the country as well as for the state. In West Bengal BJP has grown under the tutelage of TMC owing to their mutual understanding," the CPI(M) leader said.

Expressing his concern over children carrying arms in RSS-backed Ram Navami processions in various parts of Bengal earlier this month, Mishra said "People must be aware about the rise of RSS. They must realise that big danger lies ahead.