It will be a “tough fight” between the Left Front and the Trinamul Congress in this month’s Assembly polls in West Bengal while in Kerala the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) had an “edge” over the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said on Friday.
“In West Bengal the fight is tougher. In Kerala we have an edge,” Mr Bardhan told reporters here.
In Kerala, the fight was no doubt keen, but LDF had an edge and the Left front would win a majority, he said, adding “the so-called Kerala pattern of alternating LDF and UDF governments would not happen this time following the Left Front’s good performance”.
“What is noticeable this time is use of money power by the Congress. Already a Congressman has revealed that money has been paid for seats. It is not the observation of a man denied seat. What happens in Uttar Pradesh and other states has happened here. This never happened in Kerala, which is a politically conscious state,” he said.
“Congress’ greed for money seems to be growing in proportion to the losses it has suffered in election. This needs to be curbed,” he said.
Asked about the incident of CPI(M) MLA, P. Jayarajan, manhandling a TV journalist in Kannur, Mr Bardhan said “too much is being read into the incident. This is a non-issue.” — PTI