In 2010, however, that has become a reality, the unthinkable has started happening. The left front is following the footsteps of the opposition Trinamool Congress, in a desperate bid to recover its lost popularity.

The process started since March 14, 2007 when the police opened fire on poor unarmed villagers of Nandigram protesting state's land acquisition policy. It was not as though the Left front -led Government was trying to acquire land at all. Politically and in terms of governance, the front leadership and the state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee could not handle the mighty backlash that followed worldwide. The CPI(M) became a pariah overnight and the state government simply gave up governing.

This was why it could not take any action as the Trinamool Congress led by Ms Mamata Banerjee blocked a national highway for 13 days running at Singur, where the Tatas had almost completed their proposed small car factory. The Tatas quit, but the left could not win any dividends for its newfound Gandhigiri. Middle class opinion, normally supportive of the left, showed its disgust by routing the front in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

But the lesson remained unlearnt. Under Bhattacharjee, the government ceased to exist. A section of Muslim hooligans ran riot on the city streets and forced the government to oust controversial writer Ms Taslima Nasrin. Bhattacharjee could not live up to his assurance to the IT sector employees of protection during bandh days. Handful of demonstrators held up trains and disrupted road traffic at will, created mayhem at government hospitals, schools and colleges. Law and order suffered, common people and the teaching community suffered at the hands of anti-socials. The police had no orders to act. Faced by the Maoist threat, the government simply withdrew its police from Midnapore, and retreated from its offices at Darjeeling as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha went on a rampage.

Ms Banerjee, who receives good political advice these days, is exacting the full political dividend from the unannounced abdication of its constitutional responsibilities by the Front. She is now doing Bhattacharjee's work and the Trinamool Congress has virtually supplanted the ruling left front at Midnapore and Darjeeling which have been off limits for the left.

On August 9, she organised a well attended rally at Lalgarh, in the heart of the Maoist-dominated territory in Midnapore. The Maoists supported her initiative. The reaction of the state government, was churlish, to say the least.

First, the government said it would not allow her to go to Lalgarh. When she challenged it to stop her, it announced a number of conditions which nobody took seriously. After the meeting ended successfully, left parties blamed her for her alleged Maoist “links”. The contrast between Ms Banerjee's positive efforts and the Government's miserably negative reaction could not be more stark. “Why had Bhattacharjee never gone to Midnapore?” became a commonly asked question to which the front had no answer.

Having scored a point at Midnapore, not one of the Trinamool's strongholds, Ms Banerjee next turned her attention to the Darjeeling Hills. Ever since the GJM started its Gorkhaland agitation nearly three years ago, Bhattacharjee had not so far made a stopover at, let alone visit, the hill districts He and other Ministers had been busy critcising the GJM for its separatism, its links with the national and international forces of conspiracy and reaction - but always from the sanctuary of Kolkata or Siliguri!.

Once more, Ms Banerjee came out with flying colours, as her Darjeeling programmes went of exceedingly well. Not only the anti GJM forces rallied behind her, but even the GJM, which no longer has the last word politically in Darjeeling, utilised the opportunity to end its increasing isolation. Her emphasis on development and announcement of new projects for the hills went down very well with the people, who raised no anti-Bengal slogans, for a change.

“The peoples” reaction indicated that they are protesting against non development over the years, for which the left must take the blame. They welcomed her and cheered her for her interest in their development. Why Bhattacharjee or the CPI(M) Secretary Biman Bose never thought of actually reaching out to the people of Darjeeling, who were fed up with the antics of the GJM, remains a mystery. Are they scared that the people, whether at Midnapore or Darjeeling, would not welcome them?”

Cheap and censorious to the last, former CPI(M) MP Mohammad Saleem lost no time to attack her for her visit, alleging that she was in cahoots with the GJM leadership in a conspiracy to divide Bengal!

It has to be added that since the Aug 9 Trinamool meeting at Lalgarh, the CPI(M) has held a number of rallies addressed by local leaders at Midnapore. Observers expect party leaders to resume their activities in Darjeeling too. They are content to follow, for the time being, the Trinamool political agenda.

The most glaring instance of copycat politics occurred during a recent rally attended by Bhattacharjee where awards were given top leaders of the Matua sect. The state government organised such a ceremony for the first time, after 33 years. The reason? The backward community, some 40,00,000 strong, expressed its strong support for the Trinamool Congress and especially for Ms Banerjee!

Similarly, it was Ms Banerjee who first talked of job and other reservations for the Muslims in West Bengal. Now this was dangerous, sensitive territory that normally most political parties in India shun if possible. But the ruling front, nervous over its numerous political reverses and setbacks, did a 180 degree turn. Initially it had sensibly opposed such ideas. But some days ago, clearly with his eye on the 2011 Assembly polls, Bhattacharjee announced a 10% job reservation for the Muslims and several benefits for the backward among the community! Talk about competitive radicalism.

Observers however, do not set much store by such official announcements by the front government because they feel such gimmicks can no longer impress any section of the electorate, never mind religious affiliation. They only attest to the continuing political bankruptcy and opportunism that dominates left thinking in West Bengal. (IPA)