Modi’s infiltrator theme may cost minority votes in Bengal
KOLKATA: As BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s telling `Bangladesh infiltrators will have to leave Bengal…India,’ in Asansol here yesterday, picked up by quickly by the Trinamool Congress and CPI(M)-led Left and was passed off as `responsible for recent Asom’ killings of Bengali-speaking tribals and minorities, while State Congress maintained silence, both TMC and CPI(M) await a national sellout of their perspective and driving out 27 percent minority votes from the state BJP.
While political observers here believe it could be good tactical move by TMC and CPI(M) for remaining two phases of polls, “the issue may not be a national sellout.“As you see, most of the local dailies played it down, though most of them didn’t ignore it, barring a few pro-TMC and –CPI(M) dailies, it may not be a total sellout nationally,’’ he said. However, the state Congress leaders, who at last may have got a date from Gandhis agreeing to tour Bengal, “may have left it for them to slam Modi here and steal the thunder,’’ he added.
The state Congress leaders weren’t available for comments though they have launched a blistering attack on Election Commission today “for its failure to check rigging by TMC’’ during third phase on 30th April.But in Bengal, which has been witnessing the problems of infiltration, somewhat a little more than Asom, for remaining seats may create an adverse effect for the BJP, but political stirring up of heat on the issue of Saradha scam and its alleged “political beneficiaries both in TMC and CPI(M)’’ is not expected to lose its effects in the remaining phases either, say political observers here, “especially when two cheated and unfortunate committed suicides during this poll,’’ said a political commentator.
Thus next phases in Bengal may upset top political rivals’ calculations. Though a little embarrassed CPI(M) leader Biman Basu squarely blamed Mamata Banerjee today for strengthening the hands of BJP in Bengal, but remained silent on Bengali-speaking minorities and tribals seeking refuge in North Bengal.
