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Friday, May 07, 2004

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National - Elections 2004

Trinamool hopes to wrest Left Front's bastion

Pratim Rajan Bose

COOCHBEHAR

Like the rest of North Bengal, the erstwhile princely state of Coochbehar has favoured the Left Front since 1977. While the constituency has hardly changed political character, the Nationalist Trinamool Congress is banking on registering a victory here this year.

The party's hopes are linked to the sitting MP, Amar Ray Pradhan, who is now contesting as an Independent candidate. Mr. Pradhan, who has held the seat since 1977 as an All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) member, won by a margin of 1.08 lakh against his nearest Trinamool Congress rival in 1999. Expelled from AIFB two years ago, Mr. Pradhan is pitted against the Left Front nominee, Hiten Burman, of the Forward Bloc. The expelled leader is supported by other Forward Bloc members who have faced a similar fate. Mr. Pradhan's decision to contest has come as a godsend for the Trinamool Congress. He has focussed his attack on the AIFB chief and State Agriculture Minister Kamal Guha, an MLA from Dinhata Assembly segment in Coochbehar. At the same time, he praises the State CPI(M) and the Left Front leadership.

Mr. Pradhan has accused Mr. Guha of causing "embarrassment" to the State government by his "anti-Left Front" activities. He also charges Mr. Guha with using the Forward Bloc to help his family members. "Whoever decides to oppose his family is thrown out. I was no exception'', he told The Hindu. During a recent meeting at Saat Mile, Mr. Pradhan alleged that "Mr. Guha was supporting secessionist forces such as the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), which wants the separation of Coochbehar.''

The public washing of dirty linen has placed the CPI(M) — which was never on good terms with Mr. Guha - in something of a spot. Despite the desire of its district committee to play a larger role in the Assembly and Parliamentary elections in the Coochbehar, the CPI(M) state committee has conceded to the demands of the Forward Bloc in order to prevent further dissension within the Front.

The Forward Bloc has only a marginal presence here and it is the CPI(M) rules the roost. This reality has not prevented Mr. Guha from pursuing a confrontationist approach with the CPI(M). As a result, there is a growing feeling among the lower ranks of CPI(M) against working in favour of Forward Bloc. The CPI(M) leadership denies any such development, while the Forward Bloc prefers to downplay the challenge posed by Mr. Pradhan. "He will be a distant loser," says a CPI(M) office bearer in Coochbehar city.

The Trinamool camp has a different view. "He is a living legend here and is widely admired for his honesty. We are sure he will draw a considerable number of votes and that serves our purpose,'' says a district Trinamool office bearer. Splitting the Left votes will help the Trinamool considerably and this camp is happy that people are turning up in good numbers at Mr. Pradhan's meetings.

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