Ghost of Nandigram haunts CPM leader

Breakaway CPIM leader Saifuddin Chowdhury,who formed his own party in 2001 after differences with the party politburo,has jumped into the political cauldron this time,having filed his nomination from Jadavpur Lok Sabha seat after Mamata Banerjee refused to share any seat. Choudhurys Party for Democratic Socialism PDS was earlier an ally of the 21-party alliance West Bengal Democratic Front floated by Trinamool chief Mamata. But Mamata denied a seat to PDS saying the party had no support base in any part of the state. So a disgruntled Choudhury decided to contest from Jadavpur. Once a CPIM central committee member and a heavyweight MP from Bengal,he is now blaming Mamata for the Nano pullout from Bengal.

Siddiqullah goes all out against Trinamool

Siddiqullah Chowdhuri,who was famous for consolidating Muslim community voters against the Left Front government,has once again become visible,having announced that his party PDCI Peoples Democratic Conference of India will field candidates in five Lok Sabha constituencies. Significantly,the PDCI has chosen the seats in a way where Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress candidates are in an advantageous position. His fielding of candidates is meant to hurt Trinamool prospects. Earlier,Chowdhuri has set up an alliance with the Trinamool Congress during the 2008 rural polls. As a result,political analysts say,the CPIM was severely mauled at the grassroots,particularly in Muslim dominated areas. It is widely believed now that after the panchayat polls,CPIM leader Subhash Chakraborty played a vital role in ensuring that Siddiqullah split up with Mamata.

Biman Bose lauds the EC,for a change

Biman Bose,the CPIM politburo member and chairman of the Left Front committee,has often been critical about the High Court and the Election Commission. His comments about a Calcutta High Court judge led to judicial censure and Bose was extremely critical about the EC during the 2006 Assembly polls in Bengal. But for a change,this time the ECs stringent enforcement of the model code of conduct is being hailed by Bose. He advised his party candidates to fully abide by the EC directives and follow the model code of conduct. After his diktat to party cadres,the city has witnessed a clean-up drive of poll graffiti on city walls.

Top shots make beeline for Darjeeling

The political scenario in Darjeeling has suddenly taken a sharp turn with the BJPs decision to field party stalwart Jaswant Singh in the hills with support from the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha GJM,which is demanding a separate state for Gorkhas. Accordingly,the hills are likely to witness a triangular fight among the GJM-backed BJP,the CPIM and Congress candidates. The BJP stalwarts entry is likely to result in top national leaders campaigning in the hills. The BJP has decided to bring in party leaders L K Advani,Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh to campaign in Darjeeling. And the Congress ,in a bid to retain the seat,too wants its top leaders here. Party sources said there are plans to invite Sonia Gandhi,Rahul Gandhi,Pranab Mukherjee and Salman Khurshid.