BATTLE LINES SHIFTING IN SANDS OF TIME

The stakes for regional outfits like Trinamool Congress and DMK are higher at the upcoming state polls. The national parties too have their tasks cut out

- RADHIKA RAMASESHAN

seats. Its ace political strategist Amit Shah has still not reconciled with the indifferent showing, according to insiders.

This time, the BJP has employed tactics beyond the realm of conventional electioneering. Trinamool has charged that prodded by the Centre the Election Commission deleted a large number of voters from the rolls in Banerjee’s strongholds. The transfer of Governor R N Ravi from Chennai to Kolkata, and the relocation of top bureaucrats believed to be close to the Trinamool regime are aspects of BJP’s Operation Siege, intended to seriously curtail Banerjee’s room for possible manoeuvres to swing voters.

This leaves Banerjee to play the game through conventional means like upping the emotional quotient on regionalism and the Centre’s “assault” on the state’s hallowed culture, language and pride. The BJP’s central leaders have committed their share of serious gaffes by exhibiting a cavalier attitude towards the names and legacies of Bengal’s revered icons.