I.N.D.I.A bloc crumbles in West Bengal for bypolls

The much-vaunted I.N.D.I.A bloc, already on shaky ground across much of India following the Lok Sabha election defeat, has crumbled in West Bengal.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

The alliance, formed to forge a united front against the BJP, has come unstuck as West Bengal gears up for the November 13 by-elections to six Assembly constituencies in the State.

I.N.D.I.A partners, the Congress, the Trinamool Congress and the CPIM, have all named their own candidates for the bypolls without bothering to have even a single consultation to put up a joint fight against the BJP.

The bypolls were necessitated due to resignations of sitting MLAs of the six constituencies following their victory in this year's Lok Sabha elections.

The Trinamool Congress had won five of these seats in the 2021 Assembly polls, except for Madarihat, which was held by the BJP.

The Trinamool Congress was the first to announce its candidates, followed by the BJP on October 19. The Election Commission of India announced the bypolls on October 15.

The electoral contest is expected to be a litmus test for all major political parties following the doctors’ protests over the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.