CPM showcases poster boy in Capital http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?category=National&template=Assemblypolls2006&slug=CPM+showcases+poster+boy+in+Capital+&id=856
NDTV Correspondent
Sunday, March 12, 2006 (New Delhi):
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya fended questions from the national media in Delhi about his party's chances in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Even as his party opposes closer ties with the US, Bhattacharya said his state wanted investment from America and that he had visited that country and would do so again if required.
Pro-reform
Bhattacharya is seen as the pro-reform face of the Left, the one who went out of his way to attract foreign investment in his state when his party was busy criticising the Congress-led UPA in Delhi for the same.
Now with just a month left to go for elections in West Bengal, it was time for the CPM to showcase their poster boy to the national media.
"I have gone to the US and Indonesia and will do anything to attract FDI to West Bengal," Bhattacharya said.
The Left has been in power in West Bengal for 28 years. With backing from the rural constituency, victory has come easy for the CPM.
In tune
Now the party wants to be seen in tune with the times. So 108 new candidates have been given tickets for the assembly elections this time round.
And Buddhadev is the chosen one to bring about this change.
So is it different rules for Delhi and Kolkata? And what of the other contradiction: support to the Congress?
For the Left, it seems these are political compulsions while they fight it out on their home turf.