To deal with the by election results first, Ms Banerjee’s victory over CPI(M) nominee, newcomer Ms Nandini Mukherjee, teacher at Jadavpur University at Bhowanipore constituency, was forgone conclusion. With final figures yet to come in, it seemed initially that the TMC’s winning margin would be reduced. Only months ago, Mr. Subrata Baxi of the TMC had won this urban south Kolkata seat by a margin of over 50,000 votes.

But polling in the by-election, held on account of Mr. Baxi’s resignation to enable Ms Banerjee, a former Union Minister and MP to contest, was affected by incessant rains. Whereas the voting percentage was over 80% at Basirhat (N) seat in north 24 Parganas, where also there was a by-election following the mysterious death of the sitting CPI(M) MLA, it was only around 49% at Bhowanipore.

In fact, Ms Banerjee too was uncertain as to whether the TMC could maintain its winning margin, as she admitted to newsmen.

In the end, it seemed she need not have worried. She polled around 73,000 votes as against only 19,000 by her nearest rival, who had nonetheless put together a serious campaign against the incumbent chief Minister. CPI(M) stalwarts like Mr. Biman Bose and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had addressed rallies for Ms Mukherjee. Also, while Ms Banerjee’s margin was well over 50,000, no mean achievement in view of the low voting, Ms Mukherjee too could take home a small crumb of comfort : she had not forfeited her security deposit, in this David against Goliath fight.

The CPI(M) lost a seat at Basirhat, as its nominee, Subid Ali Ghazi, lost out to TMC’s A.T M. Abdullah. The margin of defeat: over 30,000 votes. This reduced the number of Left seats in the state assembly to 61, in a house of 294. Ironically, Mr, Abdullah is a relative of former CPI(M) MLA Mustafa Bin Qasem, whom he regards as an elder brother. The unfortunate manner of Mr Qasem’s death — it is not clear whether he committed suicide by jumping out of his MLA flat on Kyd Street, or was pushed — had set people talking. Even his family members were upset with the CPI(M), which had forced a physically unfit Qasem to contest from Basirhat (N).

While TMC circles were naturally upbeat over the outcome of both elections, left circles were cautious in giving their reaction. Voters could not exercise their franchise in some pockets because of a terror campaign, they said. However, other sources said that the recent exposure of skeletons in Midnapore and the involvement of CPI(M) leaders like Sushanta Ghosh over the massacres of opponents there, had alienated large numbers of middle class votes from the CPI(M). Also, efforts made by top CPI(M) leaders to defend Ghosh and underplay the killings had offended most people. It was clear that even after four months of TMC’s rule, and despite some minor setbacks and unruliness, the ruling party had held its own against the persistent left campaign against it.

The positive verdict by Kolkata High Court in ruling the new land acquisition legislation for Singur as “constitutional” was a major setback for the Tatas.

Counsel for Tatas Mr, Samaraditya Pal had in his arguments against the state government refused to consider the question of compensation, keeping his focus on the state government Act itself, which he held to be unconstitutional and against the provisions of the existing central Act of land acquisition. The verdict, describing the state Act as constitutional and in public interest, was undoubtedly a defeat for the Tatas. However, it was clear that they would approach the Supreme Court.

The High Court allowed the period up to November 2 as the time to file appeals, etc, for both parties. It also directed the state not to begin land allotment proceedings to the peasants who had refused compensation.

All in all, an unusually lucky day for the TMC and its leader, Ms Banerjee. For the beleaguered left in Bengal, the future looks as grim as ever. (IPA Service)