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Basu puts up a brave front

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu said Thursday that the Communist Party of India-Marxist's dismal performance in the Calcutta and Lake Salt municipal elections would not affect the party's poll prospects in next year's assembly elections.

" What is there to get shocked? After all we have ruled the CMC for long. Now if the Trinamul Congress succeeds in forming the board, there is no reason why we should be grumbling with a red face. We have sent word across asking for support in forming the board. It is now the Congress' prerogative to decide whether to side with a party who is an ally of a communal outfit or extend support to the Left," Basu told a crowded media conference.

Basu, however, minced no words in expressing his displeasure over the results of the Salt Lake municipality. According to him, he was hoping for 'a much better performance' in the wake of growing differences between the Trinamul and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

His bete noire and Trinamul supremo, Mamata Banerjee ridiculed Basu's statements that the results would not affect the outcome of 2001 assembly polls.

" If this is not an indication, then Basu should tell us as what should be deemed as an authentic yardstick to gauge the mood of ordinary citizens. What he (Basu) tends to overlook is the fact that next year's election will not be supervised by the state government as was the case in the civic election. That the Left candidate in Basu's home constituency lost to our nominee by a huge margin amply indicates their eroding popularity in West Bengal," the Union railway minister remarked.

Mamata appeared confident about forming the first-ever Trinamul-led corporation in Calcutta. She, however, didn't disclose her cards as to how her party would garner a majority. She said that her party's first priority was to ensure the victory of its mayoral candidate.

The Left has 61 seats, Trinamul 57, independents supported by the Trinamul and the BJP four each and the Congress 15. It's now clear that Congress will play a crucial role in the formation of the CMC.

While the Congress is yet to spell out its strategy, Trinamul, insiders say that the leadership may ask its councillors to abstain from voting. Another likelihood is that some of Congress councillors may defect to join hands with the Trinamul.

Mamata is, however, keeping all her options open. Though she declined to make an official invitation to her former party for support, she said that anybody willing to oust the Left from Calcutta was welcome to join hands with her party.

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