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Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (legt) and Communist Party of India Leader M.A. Baby (img: Dynamite News)
Kolkata: West Bengal’s political landscape has witnessed a rare development as Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have raised similar concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The development is significant because Mamata Banerjee’s political rise was built largely on challenging the decades-long Left Front rule in the state. The TMC defeated the CPI(M)-led Left Front government in the 2011 Assembly elections, ending its 34-year tenure in Bengal politics.
For years, Mamata Banerjee and the CPI(M) remained fierce political opponents, with both parties competing for influence across the state. However, the SIR controversy has brought them on a similar platform as they raise concerns over the voter revision process.
The latest development also saw communication between Mamata Banerjee and CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby over the issue. According to reports, both leaders discussed the need for opposition parties to come together over concerns related to the Election Commission and the electoral process.
M.A. Baby, a senior CPI(M) leader, has urged opposition parties to discuss the matter collectively, while Mamata Banerjee has also highlighted her concerns over the SIR exercise.
The coming together of TMC and CPI(M) on the SIR issue does not erase their long political rivalry, but it highlights how electoral issues can create temporary common ground between opposing parties.
While Mamata Banerjee continues to lead the TMC’s political campaign in Bengal, CPI(M) remains one of the key opposition voices in the state. The SIR debate has now added a new dimension to Bengal’s already competitive political landscape.
