Trinamool faces acid test today

By Our Special Correspondent

CALCUTTA, JUNE 24. The Railway Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, searching for final glory with an entry into the Writers' Buildings after the Assembly elections in 2001, will face a severe test of its capabilities tomorrow when it takes on two formidable rivals, the ruling Communists and the Congress in civic polls in Calcutta and neighbouring Salt Lake.

Normally, a civic poll would be a purely local affair and would evoke low interest. Tomorrow's elections are grabbing the headlines because whoever wins would showcase the results to gain mileage at the national level. This would be the last big showdown between the Trinamool and the CPI(M)-led Left Front before the Assembly polls.

Ms. Banerjee's stakes are very high. After her party's impressive performance in the recent Panskura parliamentary by- poll, her party and the media expect her to come up with a good show even in the civic polls. She has to bag 71 out of 141 wards with support from the BJP, her ally, to form the board in the Calcutta Municipal Corporation.

Ms. Banerjee is already staking claims to glory on two counts. First, she thinks her charisma alone is good enough to hardsell any party candidate, most of whom are first-time contestants with not much track-record. Secondly, Ms. Banerjee believes that the Calcuttans and Salt Lake residents are `tired of the Communists' whom they want to replace with a youthful set- up. According to analysts, Ms. Banerjee might have to toil very hard to touch the magic figure of 71 in the Calcutta poll. Because, a Calcuttan may be impressed by the Trinamool supremo's image, but that could not translate into votes. He knows that in a local election, it is important to elect a candidate who is responsive to his civic needs and whose services would be available on tap. The voter might feel that since Ms. Banerjee is away in New Delhi, she would not be readily available.

The Leftists have done a fairly good job of managing the ever- chaotic Calcutta over the past few years and brought about perceptible improvement in the quality of life. Availability of drinking water, improvement of slums, removing hawkers and garbage clearance are some of the achievements. They have also made a beginning in beautifying the city as well as restoration of heritage architecture.

The balance appears to be tilted in the Leftists' favour because the Trinamool-BJP combine and the Congress(I) are woefully divided. Besides, the public display of rivalry between the Trinamool and the BJP is now a talking point. In Salt Lake, the Trinamool leaders are openly exhorting the voter to opt for the Communists if they do not like the Trinamool candidate. Internal bickerings between the Trinamool and the BJP is expected to benefit the Left. The faction-ridden Congress (I) has not much chances to wrest the Corporation from the Left but it is visualising itself as the deciding factor.

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