Majority want CM to quit over Nandigram: Survey

New Delhi, Nov 24: As many as 61 per cent of those polled over the Nandigram issue in West Bengal want Chief Minister Buddadeb Bhattacharya to own moral responsibility and quit, a survey said.

A sizeable majority of 74 per cent were also of the view that the chief minister handling of Nandigram was unsatisfactory, Outlook-Cfore opinion poll said. The findings were published in the newsmagazine which hit the stands today.

It said CPI(M), the dominant partner in the Left front government, has taken a severe hit on the issue. While a whooping 79 per cent felt the Left's image had taken a beating, 76 per cent respondents condemned the ''violent takeover of Nandigram by CPI(M) cadres last fortnight.'' A majority of 58 per cent of the randomly selected sample of 1,072 respondents interviewed between November 19-22 in Kolkata, Hoogly, Purulia, Durgapur, Haldia, Burdwan, Bankura and adjoining rural areas held the CPI(M) responsible for fomenting trouble, while 17 per cent blamed the Trinamool Congress.

However, the survey said in spite of Nandigram, the CPI(M) still had a very commited following in the state, adding 44 per cent of those polled said they would still vote for the Red party.

If snap Lok Sabha polls were held, 41 per cent said they would vote for the Left alliance, while 39 per cent said they would not support from the Left front, the survey added.

UNI