Is Left tirade against poll panel a charade?

The Left Front in West Bengal will not concede it publicly, but the ruling combine in the state is not as perturbed about the EC's election directives as it is made out to be. On the contrary, LF leaders are a happy lot.

The already divided Opposition is expending its energy in trying to create propaganda about election rigging in the state, leaving aside the core issues relating to governance, according to Left sources.

The Opposition parties are ignoring the BSP factor (bijli, sadak, paani), which is known to be the Achilles' heel for any ruling party. "Is rigging an election issue? Even if some people were to believe it, do you think they will throw us out just because of this?'' wondered a senior Left leader.

It's not without glee that the Left leaders point out that poverty and unemployment could become an election issue, but the Opposition parties see more merit in talking about rigging and booth-capturing.

It is, therefore, not without reason that the Left leaders make a lot of noise every time the EC takes some action. They justify their protests against the EC's decision of five-phase polls in West Bengal, ban on wall graffiti, raids by election observers, et al. But, they also concede that these measures help the Left Front more than the Opposition.

For instance, before the first phase of polls on April 17, political parties have only two days for public meetings due to the ban on loudspeakers till the evening of April 13, when school examinations get over. Organising big public meetings in two days is a difficult task.

With a huge cadre base, the Left parties will have little problem in organising small meetings in the run-up to the elections. Opposition parties do not have such infrastructure at the grassroots, though.

Left parties are also not much bothered about the ban on wall graffiti or the directive that if a vehicle is found waving posters or banners, expenses on it will be added to the total expenses incurred by a candidate. Again, with their strong cadre base, Left parties can knock on every door. These measures only make life difficult for Opposition parties which will now have to spend a huge amount of money on print and electronic media advertisements.

On the other hand, Left supporters are already walking on the streets with their shirts and caps carrying the party's message.

Strategists in the Opposition camp who have been silently and merrily watching the spat between the EC and the Left are certainly in for a shock.

"As it is, both the Congress and Mamata Banerjee are treating each other as the main rival for the no 2 spot in state politics. This is something to be watched," said a senior Left leader.