CPI and CPM contested six and four seats, respectively, and won two each. However, it was CPI (ML) Liberation that was the biggest winner, winning 12 of the 19 seats it contested.
Speaking to TOI, CPI Liberation Secretary General (ML) Dipankar Bhattacharya said: “We expected our own account to be better, but what is most disappointing is that Congress underperformed and JD (U) He did better than we expected. As we head towards a hanging assembly, I think this is an anti-NDA mandate. ”
Once a major force in Bihar, the presence of the left has gradually diminished during the last two assembly elections. In 2010, while the CPI won a seat, in 2015, when the left-wing alliance, comprising CPI, CPM, CPI (ML) Liberation, SUCI, Forward Bloc and RSP, contested together, all but Liberation were left blank. CPI (ML) Liberation won three seats.
This time too, Bhattacharya said that a “more rational” seat adjustment with Congress – a 50-50 seat split – could have helped the left to get better numbers. “The conversations about sharing seats were not very systematic or structured. Also, this was a different election in the sense that it was led by a movement and with an increase in youth. While the left is in turmoil mode throughout the year, Congress was more relaxed and did not have the organizational strength that the RJD and the left have, ”he said.
Bhattacharya said the mandate had sent a strong message to the ranks of the left and the entire pro-democracy camp.
For the elections in West Bengal and Assam, the focus, Bhattacharya said, should remain the fight against the BJP. “The message, going forward in Bengal and Assam, is clear. We have to fight the BJP and stop it. We have to be more anti-BJP than anti-TMC. We have to compete with TMC just to beat the BJP, ”he said.
CPI and CPM contested six and four seats, respectively, and won two each. However, it was CPI (ML) Liberation that was the biggest winner, winning 12 of the 19 seats it contested.
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