Hotline help
When it comes to public relations, Madan Mitra, the Trinamool Congress candidate from Kamarhati Assembly constituency in the West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, is a step ahead of his CPI(M) opponent — he has launched a 24x7 helpline to connect with the electorate.
Mr. Mitra, branded an “outsider” by his political rivals, is attempting to use the helpline to get better acquainted with voters and their issues.
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Saying that the idea of the round-the-clock hotline came from a supporter, Mr. Mitra claims it has been a success as he receives over 100 calls a day.
“The issues raised by the callers range from missing names on voters' lists to poor infrastructure of healthcare centres to dearth of drinking water, and this reflects the failure of the sitting Left Front MLA to address the people's problems over the years,” Mr. Mitra says.
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As campaign fever reaches its peak, the debate is shifting to the selection of Kerala's Chief Minister after the election.
With the United Democratic Front leaders raising doubts over whether Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will continue to head the Left Democratic Front, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan tried to put at rest all questions.
In his characteristic style, Mr. Balakrishnan said that the confusion over selecting a leader existed only in the UDF. “Only the will of Rahul Gandhi will prevail in that party,” he said, adding that it remained to be seen whether Mr. Gandhi would opt for Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy after the election.
However, everything was safe and sound in the LDF, Mr. Balakrishnan said.
Flagging the fields
The issue of land — whether it is the land reforms introduced by the Left Front government or the agitation against its acquisition led by the Trinamool Congress — is a crucial one in the coming election in West Bengal. Even paddy fields are being distinguished according to the political affiliations of their owners.
Across the rural hinterland in the State, the walls of houses have been claimed either by symbols or the names of candidates from the parties that the families support.
Flag poles bearing either the bright red flags of the CPI(M), in sharp contrast with the lush green paddy fields, or the tricolour of the Trinamool Congress are spotted in the Ausgram block in Bardhaman district.
Some fields are marked with the flags of the opposing camps less than 10 metres apart.
Contributed by Raktima Bose, N.J. Nair and Ananya Dutta