Congress-CPI(M) Alliance for Bengal and its Consequences

For the upcoming Assembly Election in West Bengal Congress is forming an alliance with Left Front. The ruling Trinamool Congress however, seems to be "least bothered" about this.

As per TMC's general secretary, Subrata Bakshi: "We are least bothered about the alliance. We are bothered about the development work that has been done by us. Those, who are trying to forge an alliance, has been rejected by the masses."

TMC's national spokesperson Derek O'Brien in his Facebook had expressed confidence that TMC will win with a comfortable majority even if it is pitched against alliance forged by Congress and CPI (M).

He also did not agree that it will be a very closely contest poll between TMC and Left-Congress alliance.

One of its kind alliance if it sees the light of day:

If Congress and CPI (M) do forge an alliance to contest election in West Bengal together it will be one of its kind alliance as both the parties will be contesting against each other in southern state of Kerala which also will go for polls in coming months.

Many experts say that Congress and CPI (M) plan to extend their alliance forged in West Bengal till 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Previous assembly election:

Well during the previous assembly election, the TMC got 38.9 per cent votes while the Congress got 9.1% votes (they had an alliance in this election). The CPI (M) got 30.1 per cent votes and the BJP, not a strong player in the state, just 4.1 per cent.

The number of seats won by the four parties was: TMC - 184, Congress - 42 and CPI (M) - 40. The BJP did not win any seat. The total number of seats in the Bengal Assembly is 294 and the magic figure is 148.

Not all rosy for Congress:

Though CPI (M) leaders are trying to get the alliance forged there are leaders like Prakash Karat and Manik Sarkar who do not want the alliance.

Though the state leaders of Congress are trying hard to convince the party that TMC can form an alliance with BJP after the assembly election but CPI (M) can never ever form an alliance with BJP.

Few reasons that come in way of the alliance are:

1. Congress led alliance and CPI (M) led alliance have been alternately in power in Kerala.

2. Workers at the grass root level will find it difficult to work for such an alliance as Congress has been fighting CPI (M) government for 34 years before TMC came to power.

3. Congress and CPI (M) have a long history of violence in West Bengal.

4. CPI (M) will have to support Congress at the centre.

5. Congress on the other hand will not be able to seek support of TMC MPs (34 in Lok Sabha and 12 in Rajya Sabha).

6. 25% Muslim votes will be split amongst TMC, CPI (M) and Congress and not just between TMC and the alliance.