All eyes are on Murshidabad

MURSHIDABAD: When polling for the fourth phase ended in West Bengal today, one area closely watched was the Murshidabad district. With Trinamul Congress virtually absent in the district the battle lines were, by default, drawn between the CPI (M) and the Congress.

Congress MP from Berhampore, Adhir Chowdhury, is largely credited with building a robust Congress organisation. In fact the strong network has successfully withstood the onslaught of the red brigade.

Even the successful electoral debut of Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee from the Jangipur parliamentary constituency is attributed to Chowdhury.

Ironically, the Left is looking towards the Chowdhury factor to improve its seats tally in this district. The maverick Congressman, who has a twin murder rap pending against him before the courts, is cut up with party high command’s selection of candidates.

His biggest grouse is the nomination of his bete noire Atish Sinha from Kandi. Sinha was at the forefront of the anti-Adhir campaign during his face off with the police following the murder investigation. A miffed Chowdhury had foisted independent candidates against Sinha in Kandi and Mayarani Pal, another Chowdhury baiter, who is contesting from Berhampore town.

It is this dissension that the CPI (M) is banking on to improve its performance. Of the 19 assembly seats at stake, the Left Front had bagged 11 in 2001, the Congress six and rebel Congress candidates two.