Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal: Difference between revisions
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|Political position=[[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/05/31/indias-election-results-were-more-than-modi-wave/ |title=India's election results were more than a 'Modi wave' |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>}} |
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'''The Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal''' or '''CPI(M) West Bengal''' is the West Bengal state wing of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] and a recognised national party. It was formally the governing party in [[West Bengal]]<nowiki/>and has significant representation of the state in [[Rajya Sabha]]. It leads the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] and [[Sanjukta Morcha]] along with [[Indian National Congress]]. |
'''The Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal''' or '''CPI(M) West Bengal''' is the West Bengal state wing of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] and a recognised national party. It was formally the governing party in [[West Bengal]]<nowiki/>and has significant representation of the state in [[Rajya Sabha]]. It leads the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] and [[Sanjukta Morcha]] along with [[Indian National Congress]]. |
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== History == |
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The CPI(M) lead [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] has its roots in various past platforms of collaboration of West Bengal left parties and anti-[[Indian National Congress]] forces.<ref name="biman">''People's Democracy''. [http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2007/0624/06242007_biman%20basu.htm West Bengal: How The Left Front And Its Government Emerged] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815214713/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2007/0624/06242007_biman%20basu.htm|date=15 August 2017}}</ref> Such examples were the [[United Left Front (1967)|United Left Front]], the [[People's United Left Front]] and the [[United Front (1967)|United Front]] that governed West Bengal 1967–1971.<ref name="biman" /> However, ahead of the [[1977 Indian general election|March 1977 Lok Sabha election]] the left parties under the leadership of CPI(M) decided to form an alliance just amongst themselves, based on past negative experiences in collaboration with centrist anti-Congress forces.<ref name="biman" /> The Left Front was set up as the repressive climate of the [[Emergency (India)|Emergency]] was relaxed in January 1977.<ref name="biman" /> The six founding parties of the Left Front, i.e. the CPI(M), the [[All India Forward Bloc]], the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]], the [[Marxist Forward Bloc]], the [[Revolutionary Communist Party of India]] and the [[Biplabi Bangla Congress]], articulated a common programme. The Left Front contested the Lok Sabha election in an electoral understanding together with the [[Janata Party]].<ref name="biman" /> |
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The [[Workers Party of India]] applied for inclusion into the Left Front, but was denied entry.<ref name="Basu1990">{{cite book |author=Sajal Basu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LTZuAAAAMAAJ |title=Factions, ideology, and politics: coalition politics in Bengal |date=1 December 1990 |publisher=Minerva Associates (Publications) |isbn=978-81-85195-26-1 |page=133}}</ref> |
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== 1977 elections == |
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=== Left-Janata alliance in Lok Sabha election === |
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In the [[1977 Indian general election|1977 Lok Sabha election]] the Left Front contested 26 out of the 42 West Bengal Lok Sabha constituencies; CPI(M) fielded candidates for 20 seats, RSP 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.<ref name="e1977">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1977/Vol_I_LS_77.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1977 TO THE SIXTH LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718185438/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1977/Vol_I_LS_77.pdf|date=18 July 2014}}''</ref> CPI(M) won 17 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 3 seats.<ref name="e1977" /> The combined Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 5,049,077 votes (33.4% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e1977" /> |
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=== Left victory in assembly polls === |
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Ahead of the subsequent [[1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|June 1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections]] seat-sharing talks between the Left Front and the Janata Party broke down.<ref name="biman" /> The Left Front had offered the Janata Party 52% of the seats and the post as Chief Minister to JP leader [[Prafulla Chandra Sen]], but JP did not accept anything less than 56% of the seats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Bengal: How The Left Front And Its Government Emerged |url=https://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2007/0624/06242007_biman%20basu.html |accessdate=16 March 2023}}</ref> The Left Front thus opted to contest the elections on its own.<ref name="biman" /> It issued a 36-point manifesto ahead of the polls.<ref name="biman" /> The Left Front manifesto has similarities with the past 32-point United Front manifesto.<ref name="Chander2004">{{cite book |author=N. Jose Chander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G_QtMGIczhMC&pg=PA105 |title=Coalition Politics: The Indian Experience |date=1 January 2004 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-092-1 |pages=105–111}}</ref> |
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The seat-sharing within the Left Front was based on the 'Promode Formula', named after the CPI(M) State Committee Secretary [[Promode Dasgupta]].<ref name="nlr">''New Left Review''. ''[https://newleftreview.org/II/70/kheya-bag-red-bengal-s-rise-and-fall RED BENGAL’S RISE AND FALL]''</ref> Under the Promode Formula the party with the highest share of votes in a constituency would continue to field candidates there, under its own election symbol and manifesto.<ref name="nlr" /> |
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CPI(M) contested 224 seats, AIFB 36, RSP 23, MFB 3, RCPI 4 and BBC 2.<!--It is understood that the winning "independent" candidate in Tarakeswar belonged to MFB, and that Sudhin Kumar running as an "independent" belonged to RCPI. The ECI report seems to confuse BBC and the BBCP (a RCPI splinter group), it is understood here that 1 of the mentioned, unsuccessful candidates (498 votes, Chakdaha) listed as "BBC" might have belonged to BBCP rather than BBC. See the CPI(M) election statistics book, that confirms Sabang and Indpur were contested by BBC and not BBCP. It does appear that the WPI candidate in Harishchandrapur would have been supported by LF, but no confirmation found online.--><ref name="s1977">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1977/StatisticalReportWestBengal77.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1977 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref><ref name="Mukherjee1991">{{cite book |author=Bharati Mukherjee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JYg9LlHn21cC&pg=PA31 |title=Political Culture and Leadership in India: A Study of West Bengal |date=1 January 1991 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-320-9 |page=31}}</ref><ref name="Committee">{{cite book |author=Communist Party of India (Marxist). West Bengal State Committee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CNeNAAAAMAAJ |title=Election results of West Bengal: statistics & analysis, 1952–1991 |publisher=The Committee |isbn=9788176260282 |page=419}}</ref> There was also a Left Front-supported independent candidate in the [[Chakdaha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chakdaha seat]].<ref name="s1977" /><ref name="Mukherjee1991" /> |
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The Left Front won the election, winning 231 out of the 294 seats.<ref name="nlr" /><ref name="Mukherjee1991" /> CPI(M) won 178 seats, AIFB 25, RSP 20, MFB 3, RCPI 3 and 1 independent.<ref name="s1977" /> AIFB and RSP won significant chunks of seats in northern Bengal.<ref name="nlr" /> The combined Left Front vote was 6,568,999 votes (45.8% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="s1977" /> The electoral result came as a surprise to the Left Front itself, as it had offered 52% of the seats in the pre-electoral seat sharing talks with the Janata Party.<ref name="biman" /><ref name="Chander2004" /> |
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== First Left Front government == |
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[[File:Jyotibasu.JPG|thumb|[[Jyoti Basu]], Chief Minister of West Bengal 1977–2000]] |
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On 21 June 1977 the Left Front formed a government with [[Jyoti Basu]] as its Chief Minister.<ref name="biman" /><ref name="bud">''People's Democracy''. ''[http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2007/0624/06242007_buddhadev.htm Thirty Years of Left Front Government in West Bengal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401020426/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2007/0624/06242007_buddhadev.htm|date=1 April 2015}}''</ref> The first cabinet meeting of the Left Front government orders the release of political prisoners<ref name="ht">''Hindustan Times''. ''[http://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/timeline-of-left-front-government-in-west-bengal/story-muPwAyT5OH4wDKgimtqEJJ.html Timeline of Left Front government in West Bengal]''</ref> |
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The [[Socialist Party (India)|Socialist Party]] joined the Left Front after the 1977 elections.<ref name="fro">''Frontline''. ''[http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1812/18120100.htm What is the Left Front?]''</ref> Prior to the arrival of the Left Front government, the political environment of West Bengal was chaotic, and the new cabinet struggled to establish order.<ref name="MitraEnskat2004">{{cite book |author1=Subrata Kumar Mitra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dObxI9xahSYC&pg=PA77 |title=Political Parties in South Asia |author2=Mike Enskat |author3=Clemens Spiess |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-275-96832-8 |pages=77–78}}</ref> The first years of governance was shaky, as the CPI(M) struggled with the notion of managing a communist government within a capitalist framework.<ref name="Chander2004" /><ref name="int">''India Today''. ''[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/left-front-leaders-in-west-bengal-express-disappointment-over-gap-between-pledges-and-achievement/1/409602.html Pressure all round]''</ref> Minor coalition partners expressed concern over inviting multinational corporations to invest in West Bengal.<ref name="Chander2004" /> |
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=== Operation Barga and panchayat polls === |
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In the initial phase of Left Front governance, two key priorities were [[land reform]] and decentralisation of administration.<ref name="bud" /><ref name="pra">''People's Democracy''. ''[http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2006/0625/06252006_prakash.htm West Bengal Left Front Govt: A Historic Anniversary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115131946/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2006/0625/06252006_prakash.htm|date=15 November 2016}}''</ref> On 29 September 1977 the West Bengal Land (Amendment) Bill was passed.<ref name="ht" /> Through [[Operation Barga]] was done before in 1967 under the Leadership of [[Hare Krishna Konar]] and [[Benoy Choudhury]], in which share-croppers were given inheritable rights on lands they tilled, 1.1 million acres of land was distributed amongst 1.4 million share-croppers.<ref name="nlr" /><ref name="Chakrabarty2014">{{cite book |author=Bidyut Chakrabarty |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0xWBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA107 |title=Left Radicalism in India |date=13 November 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-66805-3 |page=107}}</ref> On 4 June 1978 three-tier [[Panchayati raj in India|panchayat]] local bodies were elected across the state, elections in which the Left Front won a landslide victory.<ref name="bud" /><ref name="ht" /> Some 800,000 acres of land were distributed to 1.5 million heads of households between 1978 and 1982.<ref name="nlr" /> The Left Front government was also credited with coping with the refugee situation created by the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] and severe floods.<ref name="Chander2004" /> |
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Seeing distribution of central government funds as unjust and politicized, the Left Front government began measures to pressure the central government to change its approach towards the state governments. These movements eventually resulted in the [[Sarkaria Commission]].<ref name="Chakrabarty2014b">{{cite book |author=Bidyut Chakrabarty |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oEtRBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA81 |title=Communism in India: Events, Processes and Ideologies |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-19-997489-4 |page=81}}</ref> |
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=== 1980 Lok Sabha election === |
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Ahead of the [[1980 Indian general election|1980 Lok Sabha election]] the Left Front and the [[Communist Party of India]] entered into a seat-sharing agreement.<ref name="fro" /> CPI(M) contested 31 seats, RSP 4 seats, AIFB 4 seats and CPI 3 seats.<ref name="e1980">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1980 TO THE SEVENTH LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718175926/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf|date=18 July 2014}}''</ref> CPI(M) won 28 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 4 seats.<ref name="e1980" /> The combined Left Front-CPI vote in West Bengal reached 11,086,354 votes (52.7% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e1980" /> |
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On 27 May 1980 the Left Front cancelled the past Code of Conduct for state government employees, which had limited the right to strike.<ref name="ht" /> |
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== Second Left Front government == |
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=== Three new members === |
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In 1982 the Left Front acquired three new members, CPI joined the Left Front ahead of the [[1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections]] and the Socialist Party was split into the [[Democratic Socialist Party (Prabodh Chandra)]] and the [[West Bengal Socialist Party]] (both DSP and WBSP became Left Front member parties).<ref name="fro" /><ref name="Basu1994">{{cite book |author=Amrita Basu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyY0Yb5BrqgC&pg=PA44 |title=Two Faces of Protest: Contrasting Modes of Women's Activism in India |date=1 October 1994 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-08919-8 |page=44}}</ref> Some of the older, smaller Left Front constituents were uncomfortable with the expansion of the alliance, claiming that CPI(M) was diluting it politically.<ref name="Basu1994" /> There were also disagreements on distribution of ministerial portfolios after the expansion of the alliance.<ref name="Basu1994" /> |
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=== 1982 assembly election === |
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CPI(M) contested 209 seats in the assembly election, CPI 12 seats, AIFB 34 seats and RSP 23 seats.<ref name="s1982">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1982/StatisticalReportWestBengal82.pdfSTATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1982 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]{{Dead link|date=September 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}''</ref> 16 candidates were fielded by the remainder of Left Front partners (RCPI, WBSP, DSP, BBC, MFB) and contested as independents.<ref name="s1982" /> |
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The Left Front won 238 out of 294 seats in the election.<ref name="Chander2004" /> CPI(M) won 174 seats, CPI 7 seats, AIFB 28 seats, RSP 19 seats, WBSP 4 seats, DSP 2 seats, RCPI 2 seats, MFB 2 seats.<ref name="s1982" /><!--A bit of [[WP:OR]], but it appears that amongst the Left Front candidates winning their elections on independent symbols were |
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[[Prabodh Chandra Sinha]] (DSP) from [[Egra (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Egra]], Haripada Jana (DSP) from [[Pingla (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Pingla]], [[Kiranmoy Nanda]] (WBSP) from [[Mugberia (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Mugberia]], Bankim Behari Maity (WBSP) from [[Narghat (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Narghat]], Sunirmal Paik (WBSP) from [[Khejuri (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Khejuri]], |
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Trilochan Mal (RCPI) from [[Hansan (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Hansan]], Bimalananda Mukherjee (RCPI) from [[Santipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Santipur]], |
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Sunil Santra (MFB) from [[Jamalpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jamalpur]], |
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[[Ram Chatterjee]] (MFB) from [[Tarakeswar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Tarakeswar]], Swadesh Ranjan Maji (WBSP?) from [[Panskura Purba (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Panskura East]]. |
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Non-winning LF candidates on independent tickets, |
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Sabang (BBC?) |
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Ramnagar (DSP or WBSP?) |
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Bhagabangola (most probably WBSP) |
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Arambagh (WBSP or DSP?) |
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Howrah Central (RCPI) |
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Bara Bazar (WBSP or DSP?)--> The combined Left Front vote was 11,869,003 votes (52.7% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="s1982" /> The incumbent Food Minister, the RCPI leader [[Sudhindranath Kumar]], lost his seat.<ref name="sudhin">''India Today''. ''[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/coming-rajya-sabha-polls-prove-to-be-a-severe-test-for-west-bengal-political-parties/1/360619.html West Bengal: Seating scrap]''</ref> Kumar was proposed as a candidate for a [[Rajya Sabha]] seat on behalf of the Left Front in 1984, but that move did not go down well with RSP and AIFB.<ref name="sudhin" /> |
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Jyoti Basu and five cabinet minister were sworn in on 27 May 1982.<ref name="as1982">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KdRtAAAAMAAJ |title=Asian Recorder |publisher=K. K. Thomas at Recorder Press |year=1982 |volume=28 |page=lxiii}}</ref> Another 15 cabinet ministers and 22 Ministers of State were sworn in on 2 June 1982.<ref name="as1982" /> |
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=== 1984 Lok Sabha election === |
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In the [[1984 Indian general election|1984 Lok Sabha election]], CPI(M) contested 31 seats, RSP 4 seats, AIFB 4 seats and CPI 3 seats.<ref name="e1984">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1984 TO THE EIGHT LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718184911/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf|date=18 July 2014}}''</ref> CPI(M) won 18 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 2 seats and RSP 3 seats.<ref name="e1984" /> The Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 12,296,816 votes (47.6% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e1984" /> |
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=== Calcutta Municipal Corporation polls === |
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On 30 June 1985, the first Calcutta Municipal Corporations elections were held under the Left Front rule, an election that the alliance won.<ref name="ht" /> |
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== Third Left Front government == |
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=== 1987 assembly election === |
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In the [[1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] the Left Front increased its share of seats to 251.<ref name="Chander2004" /> CPI(M) had contested 213 seats, CPI 12 seats, AIFB 34 seats and RSP 23 seats.<ref name="s1987">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1987/StatisticalReportWestBengal87.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1987 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> 12 candidates were fielded by smaller Left Front partners on independent tickets.<ref name="s1987" /><!--(9 seats won by LF independent were Bhagabangola (WBSP most probably), Santipur (RCPI), Tarakeswar (MFB), Narghat (WBSP), Egra (DSP), Khejuri (WBSP), Mugberia (WBSP), Pingla (DSP), Jamalpur (MFB). 3 seats were LF independents finished in second place were Murshidabad (WBSP or DSP?), Hansan (RCPI), Bara Bazar (supposing that 2nd place candidate is LF, WBSP or DSP?). BBC appears to have contested the election on CPI(M) symbol in Sabang--> |
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CPI(M) won 187 seats, CPI 11 seats, AIFB 26 seats, RSP 18 seats, WBSP 4 seats, MFB 2 seats, DSP 2 seats and RCPI 1 seat.<ref name="s1987" /> The Left Front vote stood at 13,924,806 (53%).<ref name="s1987" /> |
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=== 1989 Lok Sabha election === |
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In the [[1989 Indian general election|1989 Lok Sabha election]], CPI(M) contested 31 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.<ref name="e1989">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1989/Vol_I_LS_89.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1989 TO THE NINTH LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718183934/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1989/Vol_I_LS_89.pdf|date=18 July 2014}}''</ref> In [[Calcutta North West (Lok Sabha constituency)|Calcutta Northwest]] the Left Front supported a [[Janata Dal]] candidates who failed to get elected.<ref name="e1989" /><ref name="nw">''India Today''. ''[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lok-sabha-polls-key-contituencies-where-the-popular-and-the-powerful-are-locked-in-combat/1/319369.html Key contests: Pulling out the stops]''</ref> CPI(M) won 27 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 4 seats.<ref name="e1989" /> The Left Front vote in West Bengal, including the votes for the JD candidate, reached 16,284,415 votes (50.6% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e1989" /> |
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== Fourth Left Front government == |
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=== 1991 assembly election === |
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In the [[1991 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] the Left Front won 244 seats.<ref name="Chander2004" /><ref name="s1991">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1991/StatisticalReport-West%20Bengal91.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1991 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> CPI(M) had fielded 205 candidates (excluding minor parties contesting on CPI(M) tickets), CPI 11, AIFB 34, RSP 23, MFB 2, RCPI 2, DSP 2, WBSP 4 and BBC 1.<ref name="s1991" /><ref name="Committee4">{{cite book |author=Communist Party of India (Marxist). West Bengal State Committee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CNeNAAAAMAAJ |title=Election results of West Bengal: statistics & analysis, 1952–1991 |publisher=The Committee |isbn=9788176260282 |page=4}}</ref> Several leaders of minor Left Front parties contested on the CPI(M) symbol, such as Kiranmoy Nanda (WBSP), Gouranga Samanta (BBC) and Prabodh Chandra Sinha (DSP).<ref name="s1991" /> However, DSP also one candidate with its own symbol in Pingla.<ref name="s1991" /> Two different RCPI tickets contested Hansan (RCPI (Rasik Bhatt)) and Santipur ([[Real Communist Party of India]]) respectively.<ref name="s1991" /> MFB fielded 1 candidate on an independent ticket and 1 candidate on CPI(M) ticket. The Left Front supported [[Janata Dal]] candidates in 8 constituencies, mainly in and around Calcutta, as well as 1 candidate of the [[All India Gorkha League]] and 1 candidate of the [[Communist Revolutionary League of India]].<ref name="s1991" /><ref name="Committee4" /><!--Clearly, LF did not support the 1 JD candidate in Jadavpur (who obtained 437 votes) that contested against Buddhadev Bhattacharya. But all other JD candidates clearly didn't have any LF opponent and LF was allied with JD nationally at the time. |
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One point that needs to be clarified is if any candidate in Darjeeling was supported by LF, possibly the runner-up ABGL candidate might have been endorsed by LF, but no WP:RS found that indicates such a support. Chander (2004) states that LF won 246 seats, but that would have to include the JD seat and the Darjeeling seat, which was won by Ghishing (GNLF an enemy of CPI(M)). |
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The RCPI split is a mess, clearly both the ”Real Communist Party of India” and RCPI(RB) contested supported by LF. The 'Real Communist Party of India' is never heard of after 1991, probably merged back into RCPI(RB). RCPI(RB) is the faction that has continued in LF. But was the 'Real Communist Party' a LF member party? There are no indications anywhere that so would have been the case. |
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As per the WBSP, DSP and BBC candidates on CPI(M) tickets, it is really difficult to dechiffer how many they were from the ECI docs alone. BBC would not have gotten any other seat that Sabang, DSP probably only fielded Prabodh on CPI(M) ticket but WBSP is more complicated as they would have had at least 4 different candidates. |
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Furthermore, it is presumed that the winning Jamalpur candidate, contesting on CPI(M) ticket,would have belonged to MFB. |
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Update 28 Nov: https://books.google.com/books?redir_esc=y&hl=en&id=CNeNAAAAMAAJ p. 4 clarifies this: |
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Left Front supported GL candidate in Darjeeling, 8 JD candidates, (WB)SP 4, MFB 2, DSP 2, BBC 1, CRLI 1, RCPI 2 (i.e. both RCPI and RCPI(RB))--> |
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CPI(M) won 182 seats, CPI 6 seats<!--There seems to be a mix-up in ECI data of 1 CPI seat, seems incorrectly listed at ECI as CPM-->, AIFB 29 seats, RSP 18 seats, WBSP 4, seats, DSP 2 seats, RCPI 1 seat, MFB 2 seats and DSP 1 seat (on its own symbol).<ref name="s1991" /><ref name="Committee4" /> One JD candidate won.<ref name="s1991" /> The combined vote for Left Front and allies stood at 15,090,595 (48.92% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="s1991" /> |
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=== 1991 Lok Sabha election === |
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In the [[1991 Indian general election|1991 Lok Sabha election]], CPI(M) contested 30 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.<ref name="e1991">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1991/VOL_I_91.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1991 TO THE TENTH LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718183558/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1991/VOL_I_91.pdf|date=18 July 2014}}''</ref> In [[Calcutta North West (Lok Sabha constituency)|Calcutta Northwest]] and [[Calcutta North East (Lok Sabha constituency)|Calcutta Northeast]] the Left Front supported a [[Janata Dal]] candidates who failed to get elected.<ref name="nw" /><ref name="e1991" /> CPI(M) won 27 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 4 seats.<ref name="e1991" /> The Left Front vote in West Bengal, including the votes for the JD candidates, reached 14,955,151 votes (47.1% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e1991" /> |
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In 1995 the [[Communist Revolutionary League of India]] (CRLI) of [[Ashim Chatterjee]] joined the Left Front.<ref name="crli">''The Telegraph''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20060428092308/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060425/asp/frontpage/story_6142420.asp ’70s’ nemesis, now comrade – Ex-Naxal leader Ashim Chatterjee on same side as Ray]''</ref> Chatterjee, a former [[Naxalite]] student leader, had unsuccessfully contested the 1991 assembly election as a CPI(M)-supported candidate.<ref name="crli" /> |
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== Fifth Left Front government == |
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=== WBSP-SP merger === |
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[[File:Kolkatajoshi_(100).JPG|thumb|Mural in favour of WBSP local body candidate in [[Kolkata]]]] |
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Ahead of the [[1996 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], WBSP had merged into the [[Samajwadi Party]] which became a member of the Left Front.<ref name="Chander2004" /><ref name="xp">''Indian Express''. ''[http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/kiranmoy-returns-to-sp-will-remain-a-minister/ Kiranmoy returns to SP,will remain a minister]''</ref> |
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=== 1996 assembly election === |
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CPI(M) fielded 217 candidates in the assembly election, CPI 12, AIFB 34, RSP 23, RCPI 2 and BBC 1 candidate on an independent ticket.<ref name="s1996">Election Commission of India. [http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1996/StatisticalReport-WB96.pdf STATISTICAL ''Report on General Election, 1996 to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal'']</ref> DSP, WBSP and MFB candidates contested on CPI(M) tickets. In 5 seats the Left Front supported JD candidates, mainly in the Calcutta area.<ref name="s1996" /> |
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The Left Front won 203 out of 294 seats, the first major electoral set-back since its foundation.<ref name="Chander2004" /><ref name="s1996" /> CPI(M) won 157 seats (including minor parties on its tickets), CPI 6, AFB 21, RSP 18 and BBC 1.<ref name="s1996" /> The electoral losses were primarily felt in [[Calcutta]] and the industrial areas, and nine incumbent Left Front ministers failed to get re-elected.<ref name="Chander2004" /> All JD candidates finished in second place and RCPI lost its representation in the assembly.<ref name="s1996" /> However, in terms of votes the Left Front and the five JD candidates got 18,143,795 votes (49.3%).<ref name="s1991" /> Jyoti Basu's fifth Left Front government was sworn in, with 48 ministers representing all 13 districts of the state.<ref name="Chander2004" /> |
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=== United Front era (1996–1999) === |
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In the [[1996 Indian general election|1996 Lok Sabha election]], CPI(M) contested 31 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.<ref name="e1996">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1996/Vol_I_LS_96.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1996 TO THE ELEVENTH LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)]''</ref> In [[Calcutta North West (Lok Sabha constituency)|Calcutta Northwest]] the Left Front supported a [[Janata Dal]] candidate who failed to get elected.<ref name="SinghSaxena2003">{{cite book |author1=Mahendra Prasad Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bnAlnDZ2KcYC&pg=PA137 |title=India at the Polls: Parliamentary Elections in the Federal Phase |author2=Rekha Saxena |date=1 January 2003 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn=978-81-250-2328-9 |page=137}}</ref> CPI(M) won 23 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 4 seats.<ref name="e1996" /> The Left Front vote in West Bengal, including the votes for the JD candidate, reached 18,011,700 votes (47.8% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e1996" /> In the [[1998 Indian general election|1998 Lok Sabha election]], CPI(M) contested 32 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.<ref name="e1998">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1998 TO THE 12th LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718181833/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf|date=18 July 2014}}''</ref> The list of candidates was announced at a press conference on 6 January 1998.<ref name="SinghSaxena2003" /> The Left Front had been able to reach consensus on its candidates well before the other major parties, and subsequently the CPI(M) election campaign came off to an early start.<ref name="SinghSaxena2003" /><ref name="Ahuja1998">{{cite book |author=M. L. Ahuja |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CFCjniBF9s8C&pg=PA178 |title=Electoral Politics and General Elections in India, 1952–1998 |date=1 January 1998 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-711-5 |pages=178–180}}</ref> |
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A mammoth [[United Front (India)|United Front]], the national alliance backed by the left at the time, election meeting was held in Calcutta on 31 January 1998 with Jyoti Basu as the main speaker.<ref name="fro98">''Frontline''. ''[http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl1504/15040300.htm The campaign phase]''</ref> Basu undertook a tour of all West Bengal districts to campaign for the Left Front candidates.<ref name="fro98" /> |
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The CPI(M) candidates included 18 incumbent Lok Sabha MPs, whereas the CPI and RSP fielded all of their incumbent MPs.<ref name="SinghSaxena2003" /> The Left Front fielded the ex-mayor and 4-term minister [[Prasanta Sur]] to contest against Trinamool Congress leader [[Mamata Banerjee]] for the [[Calcutta South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Calcutta South seat]], but Sur failed to defeat Banerjee.<ref name="SinghSaxena2003" /><ref name="fro982">''Frontline''. ''[http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1502/15020300.htm The phase of alignments]''</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Partywise comparison since 1977 Lok Sabha elections |url=http://www.eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/GE/PartyCompWinner/S25/partycomp23.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050907120307/http://www.eci.gov.in/ElectionAnalysis/GE/PartyCompWinner/S25/partycomp23.htm |archive-date=7 September 2005 |access-date=25 March 2008 |work=23 – Calcutta South Parliamentary Constituency |publisher=Election Commission of India |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Left Front also fielded Prasanta Chatterjee, the sitting mayor of Calcutta for the Calcutta Northeast seat as well as fielding sitting [[Howrah]] mayor Swadesh Chakravarty against the Congress(I) MP [[Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi]].<ref name="SinghSaxena2003" /><ref name="fro982" /> AIFB fielded a new candidate in [[Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency)|Barasat]], as the Barasat MP [[Chitta Basu (politician)|Chitta Basu]] had died.<ref name="SinghSaxena2003" /> |
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All in all, CPI(M) won 24 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 2 seats and RSP 4 seats.<ref name="e1998" /> AIFB lost the Barasat seat to Trinamool Congress.<ref name="Ahuja1998" /><ref>Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/archive/electionanalysis/GE/PartyCompWinner/S25/partycomp13.htm 13 – BARASAT Parliamentary Constituency]''</ref> The Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 17,101,211 votes (46% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e1998" /> |
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Ahead of the [[1999 Indian general election|1999 Lok Sabha election]], the Left Front released its list of candidates on 30 July 1999; CPI(M) contested 32 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.<ref name="t99">''The Telegraph''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20161115132521/http://www.telegraphindia.com/990731/the_east.htm NINE NEW FACES ON FRONT POLL LIST]''</ref><ref name="e1999">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1999 TO THE 13th LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718183222/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf|date=18 July 2014}}''</ref> The Left Front fielded nine new candidates; two sitting CPI(M) MPs were replaced ([[Ananda Pathak]] from [[Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency)|Darjeeling]] and Ajoy Mukherjee from [[Krishnanagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Krishnanagar]]).<ref name="t99" /> CPI(M) fielded new faces in five Calcutta constituencies.<ref name="t99" /> AIFB fielded a new candidate in [[Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency)|Barasat]].<ref name="t99" /> RSP and CPI retained all their sitting parliamentarians as candidates for re-election.<ref name="t99" /> |
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CPI(M) won 21 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 2 seats and RSP 3 seats.<ref name="e1999" /> The Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 16,494,424 votes (46.1% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e1999" /> |
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=== CRLI out, WBSP reconstituted === |
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CRLI left the Left Front in 2000 in the wake of the [[Saifuddin Choudhury]]'s expulsion from CPI(M).<ref name="crli" /><ref name="bas">rediff.com. ''[http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/nov/06basu.htm Bengal after Basu]''</ref> In 2000, the WBSP was reconstituted after [[Amar Singh (politician)|Amar Singh]] took over the Samajwadi Party and [[Kiranmoy Nanda]] (Fisheries Minister of Left Front government 1982–2011) broke away.<ref name="xp" /> |
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=== Panskura by-election === |
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In 2000 a by-election was called for the [[Panskura (Lok Sabha constituency)|Panskura Lok Sabha seat]] as the sitting CPI MP [[Geeta Mukherjee]] died.<ref name="byh">''The Hindu''. ''[http://www.thehindu.com/2000/05/09/stories/05091348.htm]{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}''</ref> Mukherjee had held the seat since 1980.<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/archive/electionanalysis/GE/PartyCompWinner/S25/partycomp29.htm 29 – PANSKURA Parliamentary Constituency]''</ref> The by-election, as it occurred just months before the 2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, was attached crucial importance.<ref name="pan2">''The Tribune''. ''[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000609/nation.htm#2 Left Front suffers setback]''</ref> Jyoti Basu, former Prime Minister [[V.P. Singh]] and CPI leader [[A.B. Bardhan]] campaigned for the Left Front candidate whilst Mamata Banerjee campaigned for the Trinamool Congress candidate.<ref name="pan2" /> The defeat of the Left Front candidate (former Rajya Saha MP [[Gurudas Dasgupta]] of CPI) by the Trinamool Congress candidate was a major jolt to the alliance.<ref name="byh" /><ref>rediff.com. ''[http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/jun/08rifat.htm Trinamul wins Panskura seat]''</ref> On 27 October 2000 Basu, aged 86, was given permission by the CPI(M) leadership to resign as Chief Minister.<ref name="Chander2004" /><ref name="ht" /><ref name="bas" /> Buddhadev Bhattacharya was sworn in as new Chief Minister on 6 November 2000.<ref name="ht" /><ref name="bas" /> |
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== Sixth Left Front government == |
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[[File:Buddhadeb_Bhattacharjee_in_2006.jpg|thumb|[[Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee]], Chief Minister of West Bengal 2000-2011]] |
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=== 2001 assembly election === |
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[[File:Cpmmuralkolkata.JPG|thumb|Left Front mural in [[Kolkata]]]] |
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[[File:Kolkata00-cpm247.jpg|thumb|CPI(M) election propaganda in [[Kolkata]]]] |
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In the [[2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] the Left Front won 199 out of 294 seats, having received 17,912,669 votes along with its RJD and JD(S) allies (49% of the votes in the state).<ref name="Chakrabarty2014" /><ref name="s2001">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2001/StatRept_WB_2001.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2001 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref><ref name="pd2001">''People's Democracy''. ''[http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2001/may20/may20_bengal%20results.htm Left Front Wins A Two-Thirds Majority] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115071312/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2001/may20/may20_bengal%20results.htm|date=15 November 2016}}''</ref> For the first time since 1977 CPI(M) did not hold an absolute majority of its own in the assembly.<ref name="fro1">''Frontline''. ''[http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1811/18111210.htm A spectacular show]''</ref> |
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CPI(M) had fielded 210 candidates, CPI 13, AIFB 34, RSP 23, RCPI 2, WBSP 4, DSP 2, MFB 1<!--MFB and DSP ran on independent tickets--> and BBC 1<!--running on CPI(M) ticket-->.<ref name="s2001" /><ref name="bbc2001">''The Telegraph''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20161115132028/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1010430/national.htm "DOC IN SEARCH OF WINNING PRESCRIPTION"]</ref> A 38-point Left Front election manifesto was presented in March 2001 at CPI(M) West Bengal headquarters, Muzaffar Bhavan, and was signed by Jyoti Basu (CPI(M)), Sailen Dasgupta (CPI(M)), [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharya]] (CPI(M), Anil Biswas (CPI(M)), Ashok Ghosh (AIFB), Debabrata Bandyopadhyay (RSP), Manjukumar Majumdar (CPI), Kiranmoy Nanda (SP), Prabodh Chandra Sinha (DSP), Mihir Byne (RCPI), Pratim Chatterjee (MFB) and Sunil Chaudhuri (BBC).<ref>''People's Democracy''. ''[http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2001/march11/march11_bengal.htm Left Front Releases Election Manifesto] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115131942/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2001/march11/march11_bengal.htm|date=15 November 2016}}''</ref> A mass rally was held at [[Maidan (Kolkata)|Brigade Grounds]] on 25 March 2001 with participation from various Left Front leaders and with former Prime Minister [[V.P. Singh]] as special guest.<ref>''People's Democracy''. ''[http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2001/april01/april1_bengal3.htm Massive Rally Reaffirms Popular Support For Left Front] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115131944/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2001/april01/april1_bengal3.htm|date=15 November 2016}}''</ref> CPI(M) won 142 seats, CPI 7, AIFB 25, RSP 17, WBSP 4, DSP 2 and BBC 1.<ref name="s2001" /><ref name="pd2001" /> |
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In 2 seats (Bara Bazar and Hirapur) the Left Front had supported candidates of [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] and in 2 seats (Chowringee and Rash Behari Avenue) the alliance had backed candidates from [[Janata Dal (Secular)]] .<ref name="s2001" /><ref name="fro1" /><ref name="rjd">''The Telegraph''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20041022015939/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1010502/national.htm DATE WITH HISTORY & HISTORY-SHEETER]''</ref> No RJD nor JD(S) candidates were elected.<ref name="s2001" /> In Hirapur local CPI(M) cadres rebelled against the official RJD candidate and ran a dissident candidate of their own which finished in second place, ahead of the official Left Front-supported RJD candidate.<ref name="s2001" /><ref name="rjd" /> The sixth Left Front government, with 48 ministers, was sworn in of 19 May 2001.<ref>''People's Democracy''. ''[http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2001/may27/may27_bengal_ministers.htm Bengal Left Front Announces Cabinet Portfolios ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115132053/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2001/may27/may27_bengal_ministers.htm|date=15 November 2016}}''</ref> |
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=== 2004 Lok Sabha election === |
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In the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 Lok Sabha election]], CPI(M) contested 32 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.<ref name="e2004">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 2004 TO THE 14th LOK SABHA – VOLUME I (NATIONAL AND STATE ABSTRACTS & DETAILED RESULTS)]''</ref> CPI(M) won 26 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 3 seats.<ref name="e2004" /> The Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 18,766,404 votes (50.7% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e2004" /> |
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== Seventh Left Front government == |
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=== 2006 assembly election === |
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{{main|List of Members of Left Front Ministry in West Bengal in 2006}} |
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[[File:Marxists_flags_-_Flickr_-_Al_Jazeera_English.jpg|thumb|CPI(M) supporters during the [[2009 Indian general election|2009 election campaign]]]] |
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In the [[2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] the Left Front won 234 out of 294 seats and received 19,800,148 votes (including votes for allies, representing 50.2% of the statewide vote).<ref name="Chakrabarty2014" /><ref name="s2006">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2006/StatReport_WB_2006.pdf STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2006 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF WEST BENGAL]''</ref> The Left Front had contested 290 seats (210 CPI(M), 34 AIFB, 23 RSP, 13 CPI, 4 WBSP, 2 DSP, 2 MFB<!--contesting as independents in Tarakeswar and Jamalpur, see Ganashakti ref-->, 1 RCPI<!--contesting on CPI(M) symbol, see Ganashakti ref-->, 1 BBC<!--contesting on CPI(M) symbol in Sabang, see Ganashakti ref-->).<ref name="s2006" /><ref name="pd06">''People's Democracy''. ''[http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2006/0226/02262006_bengal%20list.htm Bengal LF’s List Of Candidates Emphasises Both Youth And Experience] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115071315/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2006/0226/02262006_bengal%20list.htm|date=15 November 2016}}''</ref><ref>''Ganashakti''. [http://ganashakti.com/bengali/news_details.php?newsid=6133 ১৯ জেলায় দুই প্রধান প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বী এবং নির্দল ও অন্যান্য দলের প্রার্থী]</ref> In selecting candidates, the Left Front denied tickets to 64 incumbent legislators (52 from CPI(M), 8 from AIFB, 2 from WBSP, 1 from RSP, 1 from CPI), seeking to rejuvenate the list of candidates.<ref name="pd06" /> |
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Out of the 234 seats won by the Left Front, 175 were won by CPI(M) candidates, 8 from CPI, 23 AIFB, 20 RSP, 4 WBSP, 2 MFB and 1 DSP.<ref name="s2006" /> Most of the incumbent ministers were re-elected, exceptions being [[Prabodh Chandra Sinha]] (Parliamentary Affairs, DSP) and [[Mohammed Amin (politician)|Mohammed Amin]] (Labour, CPI(M)).<ref name="out">''Outlook''. ''[http://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/left-front-storms-back-with-three-fourths-majority-in-wb/384044 Left Front storms back with three-fourths majority in WB]''</ref> The Left Front Chief Whip, [[Rabin Deb]], also lost his seat.<ref name="out" /> |
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In 4 seats the Left Front supported other parties, two each for the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the [[Nationalist Congress Party]].<ref name="pd06" /> One of the RJD candidates was elected.<ref name="Chakrabarty2014" /> |
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The Left Front significantly improved its performance in comparison to 2001 in the [[North 24 Parganas district|North 24 Parganas]] and [[South 24 Parganas district|South 24 Parganas districts]].<ref name="out" /> Only in the [[Cooch Behar District]] did the Left Front suffer a reversal of fortunes.<ref name="out" /> Following the 2006 election, [[Tata Motors]] announced that it would establish its [[Tata Nano]] car factory in [[Singur]].<ref name="ht" /> A major [[Singur Tata Nano controversy|land dispute]] surged. Likewise, a [[Nandigram violence|land dispute]] issue surged over a planned chemical factory in [[Nandigram]].<ref name="ht" /> These two conflicts put severe strains on the Left Front 2007–2008.<ref name="ht" /> On 8 September 2008 the Left Front and the opposition [[All India Trinamool Congress]] reached an agreement on Singur dispute but in the next month Tata Motors announced that it withdrew from West Bengal.<ref name="ht" /> |
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In 2008 the Left Front won an overwhelming majority of the seats in the [[Howrah]] Municipal Corporation; out of a total of 50 seats in the Municipal Corporation CPI(M) won 26, CPI 3, AIFB 2, RCPI 1 and 1 seat for [[Janata Dal (Secular)]].<ref name="how">''The Telegraph''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20150507190557/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131129/jsp/howrah/story_17622292.jsp Rout of the Left]''</ref> |
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=== 2009 Lok Sabha election === |
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The Left Front suffered a set-back in the [[2009 Indian general election|2009 Lok Sabha election]].<ref name="ht" /> The CPI(M) contested 32 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats, RSP 4 seats.<ref name="ec1">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/13_PerformanceOfStateParty.pdf 13 – PERFORMANCE OF STATE PARTIES]''</ref><ref>Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/25_ConstituencyWiseDetailedResult.pdf 25 – CONSTITUENCY WISE DETAILED RESULTS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811090059/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/25_ConstituencyWiseDetailedResult.pdf|date=11 August 2014}}''</ref> CPI(M) won 9 seats from West Bengal, CPI, AIFB and RSP two seats each.<ref name="ec1" /> The combined Left Front vote in West Bengal was 18,503,157 votes (43.3% of the votes cast in the state).<ref>Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLII/STATE_PARTYWISESEATWONANDVOTES_LokSabha2009_24012014.pdf PARTY WISE SEATS WON AND VOTES POLLED (%), LOK SABHA 2009]''</ref> |
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== Left Front as main opposition (2011–2016) == |
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=== 2011 assembly election === |
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In the [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] the Left Front failed to gain a majority of seats and the 34-year streak of continuous state government was broken.<ref name="s2011">Election Commission of India. [http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/AE2011/stat_WB_May2011.pdf "Statistical Report on General Election, 2011 to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal"]</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bhaumik |first=Subir |date=13 May 2011 |title=Defeat rocks India's elected communists |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2011/05/2011513143311330487.html |access-date=8 January 2017 |work=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]}}</ref> |
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CPI(M) had fielded 210 candidates, CPI 14, AIFB 34, RSP 23, SP 5, DSP 2, RCPI 2, MFB 2 and BBC 1.<!--BBC and MFB candidates on CPI(M) symbols--><ref name="s2011" /><ref name="cpim2016">Communist Party of India (Marxist). ''[http://cpim.org/content/west-bengal-list-candidates West Bengal – List of Candidates]''</ref> In one seat Left Front had supported a RJD candidate.<ref name="s2011" /><ref name="cpim2016" /> |
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The combined strength of the Left Front in the newly elected assembly stood at 62; CPI(M) managed to win 40 seats, CPI 2, AIFB 11, RSP 7, SP 1 and DSP 1.<ref name="s2011" /> The vote of Left Front and its allies had been 19,555,844 (41%).<ref name="s2011" /> |
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For the first time since 1977, MFB lost the Tarakeswar seat.<ref name="ana">''Anandabazar Patrika''. [http://www.anandabazar.com/elections/west-bengal/state-election-news/tmc-worried-about-party-mlas-weak-perfomance-1.351220 বিধায়কের দুর্বল পারফর্ম্যান্সেই চিন্তায় দল]</ref> |
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In 2013 the Left Front was routed in the elections to the Howrah Municipal Corporation, losing control over the town for the first time in three decades.<ref name="how" /> CPI(M) managed to win solely two out of 50 wards, all other Left Front partners drew blank.<ref name="how" /><ref>''Economic Times''. ''[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-11-25/news/44449850_1_trinamool-congress-cpi-tmc Trinamool Congress sweeps civic polls in West Bengal]''</ref><ref name="mun">NDTV. ''[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/west-bengal-civic-polls-mamata-magic-continues-trinamool-wins-left-bastion-howrah-542303 West Bengal civic polls: Mamata magic continues, Trinamool wins Left bastion Howrah]''</ref> The incumbent CPI(M) mayor Mamta Jaiswal lost her seat.<ref name="mun" /> On the same day the Left Front lost also lost the local election in [[Jhargram]], winning 1 out of 17 seats.<ref name="mun" /> |
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Ahead of the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 Lok Sabha election]] the [[Samajwadi Party]] (with whom the WBSP had merged) parted ways with the Left Front.<ref name="bs">''Business Standard''. ''[http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/ahead-of-polls-left-front-suffers-coalition-blues-114030800182_1.html Ahead of polls, Left Front suffers coalition blues]''</ref> The Samajwadi Party led by [[Kiranmoy Nanda]] (for many years the Fisheries Minister in the Left Front cabinets) had demanded that the Left Front allocate Lok Sabha seats to the party, a request that CPI(M) had refused.<ref name="bs" /> |
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The Left Front fielded 32 CPI(M) candidates to the Lok Sabha, 4 RSP candidates, 3 CPI candidates and 3 AIFB candidates.<ref name="pdwb">''People's Democracy''. ''[http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2014/0309_pd/03092014_ci2.html West Bengal Left Front Releases List of Candidates]''</ref> 26 out of the 42 candidates were new contestants.<ref name="pdwb" /> Out of the 42 candidates, only 2 CPI(M) candidates were elected.<ref name="e2014">Election Commission of India. ''[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/17%20-%20State%20wise%20seat%20won%20and%20valid%20votes%20polled%20by%20political%20party.pdf 17 – State Wise Seat Won & Valid Votes Polled by Political Parties]''</ref> The Left Front vote in West Bengal was 15,287,783 votes (29.9% of the votes cast in the state).<ref name="e2014" /> |
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In October 2014 a broader platform of cooperation between West Bengal left parties emerged, encompassing the ten Left Front parties (CPI(M), CPI, AIFB, RSP, DSP, RCPI, MFB, BBC, [[Workers Party of India]], [[Bolshevik Party of India]]) as well as the [[Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)]], the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation]], the [[Provisional Central Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)]], the [[Party of Democratic Socialism (India)|Party of Democratic Socialism]], the [[Communist Party of Bharat]] and the CRLI.<ref>''The Gulf Today''. ''[http://gulftoday.ae/portal/1ba67d51-4f1c-4046-8401-8b7d1933c612.aspx Left parties vow joint fight against ‘communalism’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115071904/http://gulftoday.ae/portal/1ba67d51-4f1c-4046-8401-8b7d1933c612.aspx|date=15 November 2016}}''</ref><ref name="lfb">Communist Party of India (Marxist). ''[http://cpim.org/publicissues/bengal-lf-support-sept-2-strike Bengal LF Support to Sept. 2 Strike]''</ref><ref>''Indian Express''. ''[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/left-front-cpm-congress-alliance-biman-bose-2846356/ ‘Fading partners’: Left parties open debate ‘against’ Cong]''</ref><ref>Rajya Sabha TV. ''[http://rstv.nic.in/17-left-parties-meet-strengthen-unity-communalism.html 17 Left parties meet to strengthen unity against “communalism”]''</ref><ref name="toi">''Times of India''. ''[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/16-Left-parties-to-observe-December-6-as-communal-harmony-day-in-Bengal/articleshow/45168847.cms?from=mdr 16 Left parties to observe December 6 as communal harmony day in Bengal]''</ref><ref>DNA. ''[http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-cpim-general-secretary-prakash-karat-says-efforts-on-to-bring-left-forces-together-2026648 CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat says efforts on to bring Left forces together]''</ref> In 2014 the 16 party alliance pledged to commemorate 6 December (the day of the destruction of [[Babri Masjid]]) as Communal Harmony Day.<ref name="toi" /> As of 2015 Samajwadi Party was again a Left Front member, expanding the alliance to 17 parties.<ref name="lfb" /> In July 2016 [[Janata Dal (United)]], [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] and the [[Nationalist Congress Party]] also joined the left parties in protests against price hikes.<ref>''People's Democracy''. ''[http://peoplesdemocracy.in/2016/0717_pd/massive-rally-against-price-rise Massive Rally against Price Rise]''</ref> |
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Ahead of the [[2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] the Left Front presented a first list with 116 candidates on 7 March 2016.<ref name="pd2016">''People's Democracy''. ''[http://peoplesdemocracy.in/2016/0313_pd/bengal-assembly-poll-left-front-releases-first-list-candidates Bengal Assembly Poll: Left Front Releases First List of Candidates]''</ref> The list included 69 new candidates, 16 women and 25 candidates from religious minorities.<ref>''Indian Express''. ''[http://indianexpress.com/article/elections-2016/india/india-news-india/bengal-polls-2016-biman-bose-left-fronts-first-list-has-116-candidates/ Bengal polls: Left Front’s first list has 116 candidates]''</ref> At the time the Left Front was engaged in building a broader front with parties like [[Janata Dal (United)]] and NCP against the Trinamool Congress government.<ref name="pd2016" /> Moreover, an electoral understanding with the [[Indian National Congress]] was being sought.<ref name="pd2016" /> A second list of 84 candidates was released on 10 March 2016, to the displeasure of INC leaders as 14 constituencies on the Left Front list were already being contested by INC.<ref name="ht2006">''Hindustan Times''. ''[http://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/cpm-s-second-list-pits-its-candidates-against-cong-nominees-in-dozen-seats/story-5m2LScGjDLeCzO16deEUPK.html CPM’s 2nd list pits its candidates against Cong nominees in dozen seats]''</ref><ref>''The Hindu''. ''[http://www.thehindu.com/elections/westbengal2016/lefts-second-list-leaves-congress-fuming/article8338440.ece Left’s second list leaves Congress fuming]''</ref> The second list included 52 new candidates, 9 women and 20 Muslims.<ref name="ht2006" /> Apart from the 84 Left Front candidates, two candidates each from JD(U) and RJD were announced.<ref name="ht2006" /><ref>''Asian Age''. ''[http://www.asianage.com/india/left-s-second-list-west-bengal-out-291 Left’s second list for West Bengal out]''</ref> Dialogue between Left Front and INC continued after the release of the Left Front second list.<ref>NDTV. ''[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/west-bengal-polls-congress-cpi-m-hopeful-of-solving-seat-sharing-issues-1286107 West Bengal Polls: Congress, CPI-M Hopeful Of Solving Seat Sharing Issues]''</ref> |
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Ahead of the 2016 election Nanda and his SP again resigned from the Left Front, citing opposition to the electoral tie-up with the Indian National Congress.<ref>''The Telegraph''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20161115131909/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1161106/jsp/7days/story_117635.jsp 'Akhilesh can't stand Amar Singh, for his ways and for his interference']''</ref> |
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After a period of dispute between CPI(M) and INC over the Tarakeswar seat, it was agreed that NCP would field a candidate there.<ref name="ana" /> MFB continued to contest the Jamapur seat, however.<ref>''Ganashakti''. [http://ganashakti.com/bengali/news_details.php?newsid=79911 জনস্রোতে ভেসে মনোনয়ন জমা দিলেন বাম, গণতান্ত্রিক ও ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ শক্তির ১৬প্রার্থী গণতান্ত্রিক ও ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ শক্তির ১৬প্রার্থী]</ref> |
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As per the Left-Congress electoral understanding, RCPI was requested to withdraw its candidate from the Hansan seat.<ref name="ker">newkerala.com. ''[http://www.newkerala.com/news/2016/fullnews-50350.html Bengal polls second phase crucial for Left-Congress combine (Curtain Raiser)]''</ref> The candidate did however contest anyway, against the wishes of the Left Front.<ref name="ker" /> He got 751 votes.<ref name="s2016">Election Commission of India. [http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/statistical_reportwestbangal.aspx "West Bangal General Legislative Election 2016"]</ref> |
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CPI(M) contested 147 seats, CPI 11, AIFB 25, RSP 19, DSP 2 and MFB 1<!--on CPI(M) ticket-->.<ref name="s2016" /> In total the Left Front won 32 seats; CPI(M) won 25 seats, AIFB 2, RSP 3, CPI 1 and MFB 1.<ref name="s2016" /> The combined Left Front vote (excluding allies) was 14,216,327 (26% of the votes in the state).<ref name="s2016" /> |
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== Decline from 2016 to 2021 == |
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On 30 July 2017, DSP announced that it had broken its links with the Left Front.<ref>''Business Standard''. ''[http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/dsp-severs-ties-with-left-front-117073000485_1.html DSP severs ties with Left Front]''</ref> |
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CPI(M) party-supported canteen (Sramajibi Canteen) had given food packets to labourers and poor people in various parts of Kolkata at a subsidised rate during the lockdown and had continued even after that.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Will the CPI(M)-Congress Alliance in West Bengal Work This Time? |url=https://thewire.in/politics/will-the-cpim-congress-alliance-in-west-bengal-work-this-time |website=The Wire}}</ref> Strategies were implemented to combat COVID-19 and the destruction caused by cyclone [[Cyclone Amphan|Amphan]] especially in the [[Sundarbans|Sunderbans]] on 20 May 2020 and its [[Cadre (politics)|cadres]] and volunteers rushed in to help with basics like soap, food grains, cooked food and tarpaulin for people whose homes were destroyed. |
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In the months preceding the Assembly Elections, CPI(M) held rallies, conducted volunteer work and other activities in different parts of [[Purba Medinipur district|East]] and [[Paschim Medinipur district|West Midnapore]], in areas which had been difficult to access for them for over 10 years due to crude impeachment against the ''red jhanda'' by the [[All India Trinamool Congress|TMC]] and [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)|Maoists]] alike.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Riding on Tireless Relief Work, the Left Charts a Return to Bengal's Radar |url=https://thewire.in/politics/west-bengal-election-left-cpim-amphan-covid |website=The Wire}}</ref> |
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In the preceding two years, after the reopening of all the party offices, the cadres were actively involved in various social welfare schemes with the participation of the youth in organising community kitchens, free ration and vegetable markets, safe housing, distribution of kits to students for studies and clothes to the underprivileged. |
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Among many social welfare initiatives, the Left had set up Rs. 50 health clinics and safe houses for the poor who cannot afford expensive medical care facilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. The CPI(M) had converted nearly 30 party offices into safe homes for poor people who did not have extra room at their dwellings for quarantining in case of COVID-19 infection.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 September 2020 |title=With Welfare Schemes for the Needy During Covid-19 Crisis, Left Front Aims at Comeback in 2021 Polls |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/with-welfare-schemes-for-the-needy-during-covid-19-crisis-left-front-aims-at-comeback-in-2021-polls-2844789.html |website=www.news18.com}}</ref> |
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== Extra parliamentary opposition post 2021 == |
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=== 2021 Assembly elections === |
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On the eve of the [[2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]] Left Front had reiterated a political alliance with the [[Indian National Congress]] in order to uproot the [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool]] state government and oppose the advance of [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] in West Bengal. The Left Front raised slogans for the creation of a Left democratic secular government. The [[Indian Secular Front]] led by the Furfura Sharif cleric [[Abbas Siddique]] also joined the [[Mahajot]] and had finalized its seat-sharing capacities with the alliance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Secular Front, Other Parties To Join Bengal Alliance: Congress |url=https://www.ndtv.com/assembly-west-bengal/west-bengal-assembly-elections-2021-indian-secular-front-other-small-secular-parties-to-join-bengal-alliance-congress-adhir-ranjan-chowdhury-2371871 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> The new alliance had been termed as [[Sanjukta Morcha]] (translated in English: The United Front) [Bengali: সংযুক্ত মোর্চা]. The Left Parties contested in 175 seats, Congress in 92 and ISF in 37 seats.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 March 2021 |title=West Bengal Elections 2021: Left to fight 165 Bengal seats, Congress 92, ISF 37 | - Times of India |website=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/west-bengal/left-to-fight-165-bengal-seats-congress-92-isf-37/articleshow/81340342.cms}}</ref> As per the decision, out of 175 seats, CPI(M) contested on 137 seats, AIFB on 18 seats, RSP on 11 seats, CPI on 10 seats and the MFB on 1 seat. The Left Front did not win any seats out of the 292 seats of which votes were counted on 2 May 2021. The alliance, "Sanjukta Morcha" had won 1 seat in total, the sole seat being won by Nawsad Siddique in Bhangar Constituency of West Bengal. That was the first time when, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly was devoid of any Left Front or INC MLA. The runner ups of CPIM stood as follows: |
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* Md. Kamal Hossain in Bhagabangola |
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* Md. Rostafizur Rahaman in Domkal |
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* Saiful Islam Molla in Jalangi |
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* Dr. Sujan Chakraborty in Jadavpur |
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The CPI(M) had, for a long time been running the ''Sramajibi Canteens'' and the ''Red Volunteers'' programme and continued to do the same, even after bagging only 4.6% of the vote share. The Sramajibi Canteens and the Red Volunteers service continued operating through all the COVID-19 waves. |
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=== 2021-2022 Municipal elections === |
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==== 2021 Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections ==== |
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The Left Front had contested in 128 seats and managed to secure 11.89% votes and 2 seats (CPI(M) and CPI each winning 1 seat in Ward 92 (Borough X) and Ward 103 (Borough XI) respectively) in the [[2021 Kolkata Municipal Corporation election|Kolkata Municipal Corporation election]]. The Left Front bagged a second position in 65 seats, more than any other party in the polls. Differentially, CPI(M) got 9.65%, CPI got 1.02%, RSP got 0.78% and AIFB got 0.44% of votes polled.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} Thus, in terms of vote-share, the Left Front emerged as the main opposition in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. |
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==== 2022 municipal elections ==== |
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During the civic body elections in February, the Left won an landslide victory in Taherpur municipality with an absolute majority. Taherpur got Uttam Ananda Das as the chairman by making the leftists win eight seats. |
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The Left emerged as the main opposition in the [[2022 West Bengal municipal elections|municipal elections]]. |
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== Chairmen == |
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[[Promode Dasgupta]] served as Left Front Committee chairman during the early years of the alliance.<ref name="int" /> Dasgupta died in November 1982, after which Saroj Mukherjee became Left Front chairman.<ref>''India Today''. ''[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/problem-of-old-age-troubles-cpim-with--increasing-retirements-of-ministers/1/354551.html Grey areas]''</ref> Mukherjee retained the post until his death in 1990.<ref name="sudhin" /><ref>''India Today''. '[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/with-the-death-of-saroj-mukherjee-growth-of-cpim-may-not-be-so-smooth/1/314898.html In transition]</ref> [[Sailen Dasgupta]] served as chairman of the Left Front Committee from 1990 until his death in 2011.<ref>''Frontline''. ''[http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1815/18151220.htm A life dedicated to socialism]''</ref><ref>''People's Democracy''. ''[http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2002/april28/04282002_17cong_condLres.htm 17th Congress Condolence Resolutions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217061910/http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2002/april28/04282002_17cong_condLres.htm|date=17 February 2019}}''</ref> As Dasgupta suffered ailments in the latter part of his life, Biman Bose held the position as Acting Chairman of the Left Front Committee.<ref name="fro" /> Bose took over as Chairman of the Left Front Committee after Dasgupta's death.<ref>''The Tribune''. [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020310/nation.htm "Left Front Declares RS List"]</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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Revision as of 13:23, 1 December 2023
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Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Sujan Chakraborty |
| Secretary | Md. Salim |
| Headquarters | Kolkata |
| Newspaper | Ganashakti |
| Student wing | Students Federation (SFI West Bengal) |
| Youth wing | Democratic Youth Federation (DYFI West Bengal) |
| Women's wing | Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA West Bengal) |
| Labour wing | Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU West Bengal) |
| Membership |  2.8 million (2021) |
| Ideology | Communism |
| Political position | Left-wing[1] |
| Alliance | Left Front Sanjukta Morcha |
| Seats in Lok Sabha | 0 / 42 (West Bengal) |
| Seats in Rajya Sabha | 1 / 16 (West Bengal) |
| Seats in West Bengal Legislative Assembly | 0 / 294 |
| Election symbol | |
_election_symbol_-_Hammer_Sickle_and_Star.svg) | |
| Party flag | |
 | |
| Website | |
| cpimwestbengal | |
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal or CPI(M) West Bengal is the West Bengal state wing of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and a recognised national party. It was formally the governing party in West Bengaland has significant representation of the state in Rajya Sabha. It leads the Left Front and Sanjukta Morcha along with Indian National Congress.
History
The CPI(M) lead Left Front has its roots in various past platforms of collaboration of West Bengal left parties and anti-Indian National Congress forces.[2] Such examples were the United Left Front, the People's United Left Front and the United Front that governed West Bengal 1967–1971.[2] However, ahead of the March 1977 Lok Sabha election the left parties under the leadership of CPI(M) decided to form an alliance just amongst themselves, based on past negative experiences in collaboration with centrist anti-Congress forces.[2] The Left Front was set up as the repressive climate of the Emergency was relaxed in January 1977.[2] The six founding parties of the Left Front, i.e. the CPI(M), the All India Forward Bloc, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, the Marxist Forward Bloc, the Revolutionary Communist Party of India and the Biplabi Bangla Congress, articulated a common programme. The Left Front contested the Lok Sabha election in an electoral understanding together with the Janata Party.[2]
The Workers Party of India applied for inclusion into the Left Front, but was denied entry.[3]
1977 elections
Left-Janata alliance in Lok Sabha election
In the 1977 Lok Sabha election the Left Front contested 26 out of the 42 West Bengal Lok Sabha constituencies; CPI(M) fielded candidates for 20 seats, RSP 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.[4] CPI(M) won 17 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 3 seats.[4] The combined Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 5,049,077 votes (33.4% of the votes cast in the state).[4]
Left victory in assembly polls
Ahead of the subsequent June 1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections seat-sharing talks between the Left Front and the Janata Party broke down.[2] The Left Front had offered the Janata Party 52% of the seats and the post as Chief Minister to JP leader Prafulla Chandra Sen, but JP did not accept anything less than 56% of the seats.[5] The Left Front thus opted to contest the elections on its own.[2] It issued a 36-point manifesto ahead of the polls.[2] The Left Front manifesto has similarities with the past 32-point United Front manifesto.[6]
The seat-sharing within the Left Front was based on the 'Promode Formula', named after the CPI(M) State Committee Secretary Promode Dasgupta.[7] Under the Promode Formula the party with the highest share of votes in a constituency would continue to field candidates there, under its own election symbol and manifesto.[7]
CPI(M) contested 224 seats, AIFB 36, RSP 23, MFB 3, RCPI 4 and BBC 2.[8][9][10] There was also a Left Front-supported independent candidate in the Chakdaha seat.[8][9]
The Left Front won the election, winning 231 out of the 294 seats.[7][9] CPI(M) won 178 seats, AIFB 25, RSP 20, MFB 3, RCPI 3 and 1 independent.[8] AIFB and RSP won significant chunks of seats in northern Bengal.[7] The combined Left Front vote was 6,568,999 votes (45.8% of the votes cast in the state).[8] The electoral result came as a surprise to the Left Front itself, as it had offered 52% of the seats in the pre-electoral seat sharing talks with the Janata Party.[2][6]
First Left Front government
On 21 June 1977 the Left Front formed a government with Jyoti Basu as its Chief Minister.[2][11] The first cabinet meeting of the Left Front government orders the release of political prisoners[12]
The Socialist Party joined the Left Front after the 1977 elections.[13] Prior to the arrival of the Left Front government, the political environment of West Bengal was chaotic, and the new cabinet struggled to establish order.[14] The first years of governance was shaky, as the CPI(M) struggled with the notion of managing a communist government within a capitalist framework.[6][15] Minor coalition partners expressed concern over inviting multinational corporations to invest in West Bengal.[6]
Operation Barga and panchayat polls
In the initial phase of Left Front governance, two key priorities were land reform and decentralisation of administration.[11][16] On 29 September 1977 the West Bengal Land (Amendment) Bill was passed.[12] Through Operation Barga was done before in 1967 under the Leadership of Hare Krishna Konar and Benoy Choudhury, in which share-croppers were given inheritable rights on lands they tilled, 1.1 million acres of land was distributed amongst 1.4 million share-croppers.[7][17] On 4 June 1978 three-tier panchayat local bodies were elected across the state, elections in which the Left Front won a landslide victory.[11][12] Some 800,000 acres of land were distributed to 1.5 million heads of households between 1978 and 1982.[7] The Left Front government was also credited with coping with the refugee situation created by the Bangladesh Liberation War and severe floods.[6]
Seeing distribution of central government funds as unjust and politicized, the Left Front government began measures to pressure the central government to change its approach towards the state governments. These movements eventually resulted in the Sarkaria Commission.[18]
1980 Lok Sabha election
Ahead of the 1980 Lok Sabha election the Left Front and the Communist Party of India entered into a seat-sharing agreement.[13] CPI(M) contested 31 seats, RSP 4 seats, AIFB 4 seats and CPI 3 seats.[19] CPI(M) won 28 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 4 seats.[19] The combined Left Front-CPI vote in West Bengal reached 11,086,354 votes (52.7% of the votes cast in the state).[19]
On 27 May 1980 the Left Front cancelled the past Code of Conduct for state government employees, which had limited the right to strike.[12]
Second Left Front government
Three new members
In 1982 the Left Front acquired three new members, CPI joined the Left Front ahead of the 1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections and the Socialist Party was split into the Democratic Socialist Party (Prabodh Chandra) and the West Bengal Socialist Party (both DSP and WBSP became Left Front member parties).[13][20] Some of the older, smaller Left Front constituents were uncomfortable with the expansion of the alliance, claiming that CPI(M) was diluting it politically.[20] There were also disagreements on distribution of ministerial portfolios after the expansion of the alliance.[20]
1982 assembly election
CPI(M) contested 209 seats in the assembly election, CPI 12 seats, AIFB 34 seats and RSP 23 seats.[21] 16 candidates were fielded by the remainder of Left Front partners (RCPI, WBSP, DSP, BBC, MFB) and contested as independents.[21]
The Left Front won 238 out of 294 seats in the election.[6] CPI(M) won 174 seats, CPI 7 seats, AIFB 28 seats, RSP 19 seats, WBSP 4 seats, DSP 2 seats, RCPI 2 seats, MFB 2 seats.[21] The combined Left Front vote was 11,869,003 votes (52.7% of the votes cast in the state).[21] The incumbent Food Minister, the RCPI leader Sudhindranath Kumar, lost his seat.[22] Kumar was proposed as a candidate for a Rajya Sabha seat on behalf of the Left Front in 1984, but that move did not go down well with RSP and AIFB.[22]
Jyoti Basu and five cabinet minister were sworn in on 27 May 1982.[23] Another 15 cabinet ministers and 22 Ministers of State were sworn in on 2 June 1982.[23]
1984 Lok Sabha election
In the 1984 Lok Sabha election, CPI(M) contested 31 seats, RSP 4 seats, AIFB 4 seats and CPI 3 seats.[24] CPI(M) won 18 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 2 seats and RSP 3 seats.[24] The Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 12,296,816 votes (47.6% of the votes cast in the state).[24]
Calcutta Municipal Corporation polls
On 30 June 1985, the first Calcutta Municipal Corporations elections were held under the Left Front rule, an election that the alliance won.[12]
Third Left Front government
1987 assembly election
In the 1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election the Left Front increased its share of seats to 251.[6] CPI(M) had contested 213 seats, CPI 12 seats, AIFB 34 seats and RSP 23 seats.[25] 12 candidates were fielded by smaller Left Front partners on independent tickets.[25]
CPI(M) won 187 seats, CPI 11 seats, AIFB 26 seats, RSP 18 seats, WBSP 4 seats, MFB 2 seats, DSP 2 seats and RCPI 1 seat.[25] The Left Front vote stood at 13,924,806 (53%).[25]
1989 Lok Sabha election
In the 1989 Lok Sabha election, CPI(M) contested 31 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.[26] In Calcutta Northwest the Left Front supported a Janata Dal candidates who failed to get elected.[26][27] CPI(M) won 27 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 4 seats.[26] The Left Front vote in West Bengal, including the votes for the JD candidate, reached 16,284,415 votes (50.6% of the votes cast in the state).[26]
Fourth Left Front government
1991 assembly election
In the 1991 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election the Left Front won 244 seats.[6][28] CPI(M) had fielded 205 candidates (excluding minor parties contesting on CPI(M) tickets), CPI 11, AIFB 34, RSP 23, MFB 2, RCPI 2, DSP 2, WBSP 4 and BBC 1.[28][29] Several leaders of minor Left Front parties contested on the CPI(M) symbol, such as Kiranmoy Nanda (WBSP), Gouranga Samanta (BBC) and Prabodh Chandra Sinha (DSP).[28] However, DSP also one candidate with its own symbol in Pingla.[28] Two different RCPI tickets contested Hansan (RCPI (Rasik Bhatt)) and Santipur (Real Communist Party of India) respectively.[28] MFB fielded 1 candidate on an independent ticket and 1 candidate on CPI(M) ticket. The Left Front supported Janata Dal candidates in 8 constituencies, mainly in and around Calcutta, as well as 1 candidate of the All India Gorkha League and 1 candidate of the Communist Revolutionary League of India.[28][29]
CPI(M) won 182 seats, CPI 6 seats, AIFB 29 seats, RSP 18 seats, WBSP 4, seats, DSP 2 seats, RCPI 1 seat, MFB 2 seats and DSP 1 seat (on its own symbol).[28][29] One JD candidate won.[28] The combined vote for Left Front and allies stood at 15,090,595 (48.92% of the votes cast in the state).[28]
1991 Lok Sabha election
In the 1991 Lok Sabha election, CPI(M) contested 30 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.[30] In Calcutta Northwest and Calcutta Northeast the Left Front supported a Janata Dal candidates who failed to get elected.[27][30] CPI(M) won 27 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 4 seats.[30] The Left Front vote in West Bengal, including the votes for the JD candidates, reached 14,955,151 votes (47.1% of the votes cast in the state).[30]
In 1995 the Communist Revolutionary League of India (CRLI) of Ashim Chatterjee joined the Left Front.[31] Chatterjee, a former Naxalite student leader, had unsuccessfully contested the 1991 assembly election as a CPI(M)-supported candidate.[31]
Fifth Left Front government
WBSP-SP merger
.JPG)
Ahead of the 1996 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, WBSP had merged into the Samajwadi Party which became a member of the Left Front.[6][32]
1996 assembly election
CPI(M) fielded 217 candidates in the assembly election, CPI 12, AIFB 34, RSP 23, RCPI 2 and BBC 1 candidate on an independent ticket.[33] DSP, WBSP and MFB candidates contested on CPI(M) tickets. In 5 seats the Left Front supported JD candidates, mainly in the Calcutta area.[33]
The Left Front won 203 out of 294 seats, the first major electoral set-back since its foundation.[6][33] CPI(M) won 157 seats (including minor parties on its tickets), CPI 6, AFB 21, RSP 18 and BBC 1.[33] The electoral losses were primarily felt in Calcutta and the industrial areas, and nine incumbent Left Front ministers failed to get re-elected.[6] All JD candidates finished in second place and RCPI lost its representation in the assembly.[33] However, in terms of votes the Left Front and the five JD candidates got 18,143,795 votes (49.3%).[28] Jyoti Basu's fifth Left Front government was sworn in, with 48 ministers representing all 13 districts of the state.[6]
United Front era (1996–1999)
In the 1996 Lok Sabha election, CPI(M) contested 31 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.[34] In Calcutta Northwest the Left Front supported a Janata Dal candidate who failed to get elected.[35] CPI(M) won 23 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 4 seats.[34] The Left Front vote in West Bengal, including the votes for the JD candidate, reached 18,011,700 votes (47.8% of the votes cast in the state).[34] In the 1998 Lok Sabha election, CPI(M) contested 32 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.[36] The list of candidates was announced at a press conference on 6 January 1998.[35] The Left Front had been able to reach consensus on its candidates well before the other major parties, and subsequently the CPI(M) election campaign came off to an early start.[35][37]
A mammoth United Front, the national alliance backed by the left at the time, election meeting was held in Calcutta on 31 January 1998 with Jyoti Basu as the main speaker.[38] Basu undertook a tour of all West Bengal districts to campaign for the Left Front candidates.[38]
The CPI(M) candidates included 18 incumbent Lok Sabha MPs, whereas the CPI and RSP fielded all of their incumbent MPs.[35] The Left Front fielded the ex-mayor and 4-term minister Prasanta Sur to contest against Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee for the Calcutta South seat, but Sur failed to defeat Banerjee.[35][39][40] The Left Front also fielded Prasanta Chatterjee, the sitting mayor of Calcutta for the Calcutta Northeast seat as well as fielding sitting Howrah mayor Swadesh Chakravarty against the Congress(I) MP Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.[35][39] AIFB fielded a new candidate in Barasat, as the Barasat MP Chitta Basu had died.[35]
All in all, CPI(M) won 24 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 2 seats and RSP 4 seats.[36] AIFB lost the Barasat seat to Trinamool Congress.[37][41] The Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 17,101,211 votes (46% of the votes cast in the state).[36]
Ahead of the 1999 Lok Sabha election, the Left Front released its list of candidates on 30 July 1999; CPI(M) contested 32 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.[42][43] The Left Front fielded nine new candidates; two sitting CPI(M) MPs were replaced (Ananda Pathak from Darjeeling and Ajoy Mukherjee from Krishnanagar).[42] CPI(M) fielded new faces in five Calcutta constituencies.[42] AIFB fielded a new candidate in Barasat.[42] RSP and CPI retained all their sitting parliamentarians as candidates for re-election.[42]
CPI(M) won 21 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 2 seats and RSP 3 seats.[43] The Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 16,494,424 votes (46.1% of the votes cast in the state).[43]
CRLI out, WBSP reconstituted
CRLI left the Left Front in 2000 in the wake of the Saifuddin Choudhury's expulsion from CPI(M).[31][44] In 2000, the WBSP was reconstituted after Amar Singh took over the Samajwadi Party and Kiranmoy Nanda (Fisheries Minister of Left Front government 1982–2011) broke away.[32]
Panskura by-election
In 2000 a by-election was called for the Panskura Lok Sabha seat as the sitting CPI MP Geeta Mukherjee died.[45] Mukherjee had held the seat since 1980.[46] The by-election, as it occurred just months before the 2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, was attached crucial importance.[47] Jyoti Basu, former Prime Minister V.P. Singh and CPI leader A.B. Bardhan campaigned for the Left Front candidate whilst Mamata Banerjee campaigned for the Trinamool Congress candidate.[47] The defeat of the Left Front candidate (former Rajya Saha MP Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI) by the Trinamool Congress candidate was a major jolt to the alliance.[45][48] On 27 October 2000 Basu, aged 86, was given permission by the CPI(M) leadership to resign as Chief Minister.[6][12][44] Buddhadev Bhattacharya was sworn in as new Chief Minister on 6 November 2000.[12][44]
Sixth Left Front government
2001 assembly election
In the 2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election the Left Front won 199 out of 294 seats, having received 17,912,669 votes along with its RJD and JD(S) allies (49% of the votes in the state).[17][49][50] For the first time since 1977 CPI(M) did not hold an absolute majority of its own in the assembly.[51]
CPI(M) had fielded 210 candidates, CPI 13, AIFB 34, RSP 23, RCPI 2, WBSP 4, DSP 2, MFB 1 and BBC 1.[49][52] A 38-point Left Front election manifesto was presented in March 2001 at CPI(M) West Bengal headquarters, Muzaffar Bhavan, and was signed by Jyoti Basu (CPI(M)), Sailen Dasgupta (CPI(M)), Buddhadeb Bhattacharya (CPI(M), Anil Biswas (CPI(M)), Ashok Ghosh (AIFB), Debabrata Bandyopadhyay (RSP), Manjukumar Majumdar (CPI), Kiranmoy Nanda (SP), Prabodh Chandra Sinha (DSP), Mihir Byne (RCPI), Pratim Chatterjee (MFB) and Sunil Chaudhuri (BBC).[53] A mass rally was held at Brigade Grounds on 25 March 2001 with participation from various Left Front leaders and with former Prime Minister V.P. Singh as special guest.[54] CPI(M) won 142 seats, CPI 7, AIFB 25, RSP 17, WBSP 4, DSP 2 and BBC 1.[49][50]
In 2 seats (Bara Bazar and Hirapur) the Left Front had supported candidates of Rashtriya Janata Dal and in 2 seats (Chowringee and Rash Behari Avenue) the alliance had backed candidates from Janata Dal (Secular) .[49][51][55] No RJD nor JD(S) candidates were elected.[49] In Hirapur local CPI(M) cadres rebelled against the official RJD candidate and ran a dissident candidate of their own which finished in second place, ahead of the official Left Front-supported RJD candidate.[49][55] The sixth Left Front government, with 48 ministers, was sworn in of 19 May 2001.[56]
2004 Lok Sabha election
In the 2004 Lok Sabha election, CPI(M) contested 32 seats, RSP 4 seats, CPI 3 seats and AIFB 3 seats.[57] CPI(M) won 26 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats and RSP 3 seats.[57] The Left Front vote in West Bengal reached 18,766,404 votes (50.7% of the votes cast in the state).[57]
Seventh Left Front government
2006 assembly election
In the 2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election the Left Front won 234 out of 294 seats and received 19,800,148 votes (including votes for allies, representing 50.2% of the statewide vote).[17][58] The Left Front had contested 290 seats (210 CPI(M), 34 AIFB, 23 RSP, 13 CPI, 4 WBSP, 2 DSP, 2 MFB, 1 RCPI, 1 BBC).[58][59][60] In selecting candidates, the Left Front denied tickets to 64 incumbent legislators (52 from CPI(M), 8 from AIFB, 2 from WBSP, 1 from RSP, 1 from CPI), seeking to rejuvenate the list of candidates.[59]
Out of the 234 seats won by the Left Front, 175 were won by CPI(M) candidates, 8 from CPI, 23 AIFB, 20 RSP, 4 WBSP, 2 MFB and 1 DSP.[58] Most of the incumbent ministers were re-elected, exceptions being Prabodh Chandra Sinha (Parliamentary Affairs, DSP) and Mohammed Amin (Labour, CPI(M)).[61] The Left Front Chief Whip, Rabin Deb, also lost his seat.[61]
In 4 seats the Left Front supported other parties, two each for the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Nationalist Congress Party.[59] One of the RJD candidates was elected.[17]
The Left Front significantly improved its performance in comparison to 2001 in the North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts.[61] Only in the Cooch Behar District did the Left Front suffer a reversal of fortunes.[61] Following the 2006 election, Tata Motors announced that it would establish its Tata Nano car factory in Singur.[12] A major land dispute surged. Likewise, a land dispute issue surged over a planned chemical factory in Nandigram.[12] These two conflicts put severe strains on the Left Front 2007–2008.[12] On 8 September 2008 the Left Front and the opposition All India Trinamool Congress reached an agreement on Singur dispute but in the next month Tata Motors announced that it withdrew from West Bengal.[12]
In 2008 the Left Front won an overwhelming majority of the seats in the Howrah Municipal Corporation; out of a total of 50 seats in the Municipal Corporation CPI(M) won 26, CPI 3, AIFB 2, RCPI 1 and 1 seat for Janata Dal (Secular).[62]
2009 Lok Sabha election
The Left Front suffered a set-back in the 2009 Lok Sabha election.[12] The CPI(M) contested 32 seats, CPI 3 seats, AIFB 3 seats, RSP 4 seats.[63][64] CPI(M) won 9 seats from West Bengal, CPI, AIFB and RSP two seats each.[63] The combined Left Front vote in West Bengal was 18,503,157 votes (43.3% of the votes cast in the state).[65]
Left Front as main opposition (2011–2016)
2011 assembly election
In the 2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election the Left Front failed to gain a majority of seats and the 34-year streak of continuous state government was broken.[66][67]
CPI(M) had fielded 210 candidates, CPI 14, AIFB 34, RSP 23, SP 5, DSP 2, RCPI 2, MFB 2 and BBC 1.[66][68] In one seat Left Front had supported a RJD candidate.[66][68]
The combined strength of the Left Front in the newly elected assembly stood at 62; CPI(M) managed to win 40 seats, CPI 2, AIFB 11, RSP 7, SP 1 and DSP 1.[66] The vote of Left Front and its allies had been 19,555,844 (41%).[66]
For the first time since 1977, MFB lost the Tarakeswar seat.[69]
In 2013 the Left Front was routed in the elections to the Howrah Municipal Corporation, losing control over the town for the first time in three decades.[62] CPI(M) managed to win solely two out of 50 wards, all other Left Front partners drew blank.[62][70][71] The incumbent CPI(M) mayor Mamta Jaiswal lost her seat.[71] On the same day the Left Front lost also lost the local election in Jhargram, winning 1 out of 17 seats.[71]
Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election the Samajwadi Party (with whom the WBSP had merged) parted ways with the Left Front.[72] The Samajwadi Party led by Kiranmoy Nanda (for many years the Fisheries Minister in the Left Front cabinets) had demanded that the Left Front allocate Lok Sabha seats to the party, a request that CPI(M) had refused.[72]
The Left Front fielded 32 CPI(M) candidates to the Lok Sabha, 4 RSP candidates, 3 CPI candidates and 3 AIFB candidates.[73] 26 out of the 42 candidates were new contestants.[73] Out of the 42 candidates, only 2 CPI(M) candidates were elected.[74] The Left Front vote in West Bengal was 15,287,783 votes (29.9% of the votes cast in the state).[74]
In October 2014 a broader platform of cooperation between West Bengal left parties emerged, encompassing the ten Left Front parties (CPI(M), CPI, AIFB, RSP, DSP, RCPI, MFB, BBC, Workers Party of India, Bolshevik Party of India) as well as the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, the Provisional Central Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), the Party of Democratic Socialism, the Communist Party of Bharat and the CRLI.[75][76][77][78][79][80] In 2014 the 16 party alliance pledged to commemorate 6 December (the day of the destruction of Babri Masjid) as Communal Harmony Day.[79] As of 2015 Samajwadi Party was again a Left Front member, expanding the alliance to 17 parties.[76] In July 2016 Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Nationalist Congress Party also joined the left parties in protests against price hikes.[81]
Ahead of the 2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election the Left Front presented a first list with 116 candidates on 7 March 2016.[82] The list included 69 new candidates, 16 women and 25 candidates from religious minorities.[83] At the time the Left Front was engaged in building a broader front with parties like Janata Dal (United) and NCP against the Trinamool Congress government.[82] Moreover, an electoral understanding with the Indian National Congress was being sought.[82] A second list of 84 candidates was released on 10 March 2016, to the displeasure of INC leaders as 14 constituencies on the Left Front list were already being contested by INC.[84][85] The second list included 52 new candidates, 9 women and 20 Muslims.[84] Apart from the 84 Left Front candidates, two candidates each from JD(U) and RJD were announced.[84][86] Dialogue between Left Front and INC continued after the release of the Left Front second list.[87]
Ahead of the 2016 election Nanda and his SP again resigned from the Left Front, citing opposition to the electoral tie-up with the Indian National Congress.[88]
After a period of dispute between CPI(M) and INC over the Tarakeswar seat, it was agreed that NCP would field a candidate there.[69] MFB continued to contest the Jamapur seat, however.[89]
As per the Left-Congress electoral understanding, RCPI was requested to withdraw its candidate from the Hansan seat.[90] The candidate did however contest anyway, against the wishes of the Left Front.[90] He got 751 votes.[91]
CPI(M) contested 147 seats, CPI 11, AIFB 25, RSP 19, DSP 2 and MFB 1.[91] In total the Left Front won 32 seats; CPI(M) won 25 seats, AIFB 2, RSP 3, CPI 1 and MFB 1.[91] The combined Left Front vote (excluding allies) was 14,216,327 (26% of the votes in the state).[91]
Decline from 2016 to 2021
On 30 July 2017, DSP announced that it had broken its links with the Left Front.[92]
CPI(M) party-supported canteen (Sramajibi Canteen) had given food packets to labourers and poor people in various parts of Kolkata at a subsidised rate during the lockdown and had continued even after that.[93] Strategies were implemented to combat COVID-19 and the destruction caused by cyclone Amphan especially in the Sunderbans on 20 May 2020 and its cadres and volunteers rushed in to help with basics like soap, food grains, cooked food and tarpaulin for people whose homes were destroyed.
In the months preceding the Assembly Elections, CPI(M) held rallies, conducted volunteer work and other activities in different parts of East and West Midnapore, in areas which had been difficult to access for them for over 10 years due to crude impeachment against the red jhanda by the TMC and Maoists alike.[94]
In the preceding two years, after the reopening of all the party offices, the cadres were actively involved in various social welfare schemes with the participation of the youth in organising community kitchens, free ration and vegetable markets, safe housing, distribution of kits to students for studies and clothes to the underprivileged.
Among many social welfare initiatives, the Left had set up Rs. 50 health clinics and safe houses for the poor who cannot afford expensive medical care facilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. The CPI(M) had converted nearly 30 party offices into safe homes for poor people who did not have extra room at their dwellings for quarantining in case of COVID-19 infection.[95]
Extra parliamentary opposition post 2021
2021 Assembly elections
On the eve of the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election Left Front had reiterated a political alliance with the Indian National Congress in order to uproot the Trinamool state government and oppose the advance of BJP in West Bengal. The Left Front raised slogans for the creation of a Left democratic secular government. The Indian Secular Front led by the Furfura Sharif cleric Abbas Siddique also joined the Mahajot and had finalized its seat-sharing capacities with the alliance.[96] The new alliance had been termed as Sanjukta Morcha (translated in English: The United Front) [Bengali: সংযুক্ত মোর্চা]. The Left Parties contested in 175 seats, Congress in 92 and ISF in 37 seats.[97] As per the decision, out of 175 seats, CPI(M) contested on 137 seats, AIFB on 18 seats, RSP on 11 seats, CPI on 10 seats and the MFB on 1 seat. The Left Front did not win any seats out of the 292 seats of which votes were counted on 2 May 2021. The alliance, "Sanjukta Morcha" had won 1 seat in total, the sole seat being won by Nawsad Siddique in Bhangar Constituency of West Bengal. That was the first time when, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly was devoid of any Left Front or INC MLA. The runner ups of CPIM stood as follows:
- Md. Kamal Hossain in Bhagabangola
- Md. Rostafizur Rahaman in Domkal
- Saiful Islam Molla in Jalangi
- Dr. Sujan Chakraborty in Jadavpur
The CPI(M) had, for a long time been running the Sramajibi Canteens and the Red Volunteers programme and continued to do the same, even after bagging only 4.6% of the vote share. The Sramajibi Canteens and the Red Volunteers service continued operating through all the COVID-19 waves.
2021-2022 Municipal elections
2021 Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections
The Left Front had contested in 128 seats and managed to secure 11.89% votes and 2 seats (CPI(M) and CPI each winning 1 seat in Ward 92 (Borough X) and Ward 103 (Borough XI) respectively) in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation election. The Left Front bagged a second position in 65 seats, more than any other party in the polls. Differentially, CPI(M) got 9.65%, CPI got 1.02%, RSP got 0.78% and AIFB got 0.44% of votes polled.[citation needed] Thus, in terms of vote-share, the Left Front emerged as the main opposition in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
2022 municipal elections
During the civic body elections in February, the Left won an landslide victory in Taherpur municipality with an absolute majority. Taherpur got Uttam Ananda Das as the chairman by making the leftists win eight seats.
The Left emerged as the main opposition in the municipal elections.
Chairmen
Promode Dasgupta served as Left Front Committee chairman during the early years of the alliance.[15] Dasgupta died in November 1982, after which Saroj Mukherjee became Left Front chairman.[98] Mukherjee retained the post until his death in 1990.[22][99] Sailen Dasgupta served as chairman of the Left Front Committee from 1990 until his death in 2011.[100][101] As Dasgupta suffered ailments in the latter part of his life, Biman Bose held the position as Acting Chairman of the Left Front Committee.[13] Bose took over as Chairman of the Left Front Committee after Dasgupta's death.[102]
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