Forward Bloc lawmaker blames LF stalwarts for Bengal debacle

Kolkata, May 22: Holding top state leaders of all Left Front partners responsible for the combine’s drubbing in the West Bengal assembly polls, a Forward Bloc legislator on Sunday lashed out against the alliance with the Congress, saying it was formed by compromising on ideals and policies to serve the interest of some parties. “The alliance was formed around the time of the elections. Two political parties (Left Front spearhead CPI-M and the Congress) initially decided on forming the alliance to serve their own interests. Then other LF constituents endorsed it,” said Ali Imran Ramz, who was elected from Chakulia in North Dijpur district.

The All Indian Forward Bloc youth leader claimed that “people saw through the game”. “The alliance was formed by the leaders, but it could not reach the people at the grassroots.” The newly-cobbled LF-Congress alliance finished a poor second, winning only 77 seats, while the ruling Trimool Congress retained power by grabbing a whooping 211 seats in the 294-member house. The performance was all the more grim for the LF, which finished second fiddle to the Congress in the alliance, despite contesting close to two-thirds of the seats. The Congress finished with a tally of 44, a dozen more than the LF, to emerge as the principal opposition party in the state. The LF had been the main opposition formation in the last five years. Ramz said ahead of the election, he had raised objection on entering into an alliance at the state committee meeting of his own party, but it was not taken seriously. “I had then said if we think we can go forward on the strength of the alliance, it will be a mistake. Since the Left parties have cadre-based organisations, we can transfer our votes easily. But there was always a question mark on to what extent the Congress would be able to shift their votes in our favour. “So I had said it would be improper to go into the alliance by discarding our ideals and policies.(ians)