‘Her changed stance may benefit Left’

The Left Front has hinted that Mamata Banerjee’s “changed” stand towards the Prime Minister may help it regain the main Opposition space in Bengal. After the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP partially captured the Opposition space in the State.

Asked whether the development would boost Left’s political prospects in Bengal, State secretary of the Revolutionary Socialist Party Khiti Goswami hinted that the Left Front would try to capitalise on the issue. “We will highlight this covert alliance between the TMC and the BJP to the people,” he told The Hindu on Wednesday.

As for the Left’s chances of arresting its electoral decline in Bengal, Mr. Goswami said: “We have noticed a certain change in the people’s attitude (regarding the Left). This is a positive sign for us.”

Mr. Goswami claimed that by supporting the bills of the BJP-led Government at the Centre; the TMC was trying to seek protection from the ongoing CBI probe into the Saradha Ponzi scam.

Earlier in the day, Left Front chairperson Biman Basu also spoke in similar vein. “It is clear that the TMC, a party devoid of ideology, is getting close to the BJP and Central government led by it,” he said.

Asked Mr. Basu said that they would not meet Mr. Modi in the alleged rigging in civic polls context. “Local governance is a State subject and hence we are not thinking about this.”

Mr. Basu declared that in the 12 civic bodies which had no clear winner, the Left Front would be in the Opposition.