So far she has staged such processions in North, South Kolkata, Jadavpur and Howrah. The popular response to these programmes has been very positive. Local people wanted to have a feel of the TMC leader at close quarters. Some responded to her “namaskars” or waved back as she waved at them, or smiled. Being a seasoned politician who knows how to “play” her crowds, Ms Banerjee always has a word to spare for the old lady peering at her , a gaping awestruck sweaty rickshaw puller gaping or a clutch of starry-eyed little schoolchildren, all by the wayside……

As the human chain she leads moves along, slogan shouting supporters close behind, people throng the balconies, windows of offices open, roadside hawkers stop selling their stuff.

The cynical cannot help noticing that the programmes are not as “spontaneous” as the TMC would like to claim. They are always well “covered,” by the crew of TV channels thought to be “loyal” to her and newsmen. Then there is her faithful flock of eminent (and some not- so- eminent) celebs. As a PR or self projection exercise, these are effective. But Ms Banerjee cannot be blamed. This is what political campaigning and fighting elections are all about. And her opponents do the same, only not half as effectively.

In contrast, left candidates and leaders are far more self conscious, or appear so, excepting some “naturals” like Mohammad Salim or Robin Deb, (neither a candidate). Most others, including two-term chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, or Ministers Ashim Dasgupta, Nirupam Sen , Suryakanta Mishra for all their merits or otherwise, do not exude a commoner’s persona. They lack spontaneity, the easy touch, the charming informality.

And why not? Until recently, grim-faced, doddering CPI(M) leaders had frowned on being too easy going or even normally polite, among common people. Men like former Minister Subhas Chakravarty who behaved more naturally than officially, had often been criticised.

With the 2011 assembly elections being the most difficult to be faced by the Bengal Left, its standard cadre- style of campaigning, heavy on “discipline” and slogans, now calls for a total overhaul It badly lacks a lively freshness that can match the sheer exuberance of the TMC camp. Only Bhattacharjee has tried after a fashion to project a “softer” image in his interactions with students, intellectuals, and interviewers. He resembles an elderly affectionate schoolteacher in these face-offs, no longer the fire- eating leader who dared the world to stop the Nano car project — and just about as inspiring!

As for other CPI(M) “heavies” like Amitava Nandi, Tarit Topdar, Shyamal Chakravarty or Benoy Konar, the less said the better. They hardly attract new faces in meetings they address. Even the faithful now respond less enthusiastically to their calls for the “peoples democratic revolution.” Far too late, elderly Left leaders are feeling the need for energetic youthful faces as speakers. And one or two new faces certainly seem promising.

Between the TMC and the CPI(M)-led Left Front, the Cong(I) campaign is a low-key affair. Leaders like Pranab Mukherjee, Manash Bhuyan, Pradip Bhattacharjee, Nirbed Roy are all good, effective speakers. They are also on generally good behaviour with the common people and the press. But unlike their TMC counterparts like Madan Mitra, or Partha Chatterjee, both far poorer in eloquence, the force is not with the Congress. It is no different with the BJP, which uses out of station stalwarts to enthuse its small band of followers, more out of a sense of duty than anything else.

It promises to be a long hot campaign, as spring turns to summer. There is more enthusiasm in the non-left campaign following the seat alliance between the TMC and the Congress, but the Left continues to fight hard. Bhattacharjee has addressed no fewer than a dozen meetings in his Jadavpur constituency. But signs are any indication, it will not be easy for the Left. In the schools he has visited, the questions he faced were all hostile. (IPA Service)