The mandate of 2009 Lok Sabha elections was an indication of the ripple effect that were going to quiver the red bastions in West Bengal & Kerala. In West Bengal, it took the opposition almost 35 years to boot the left parties out of people’s favor, and it was not the grand old party of India with its 125 years of legacy and experience. All that was needed was its 13 year old off-shoot, a lady with cotton saree and rubber slippers and an idea. Yes it’s true an idea can change your life no matter how “Nano” it is. Post Singur incident, the left had been on a downhill roll, and never looked comfortable going to polls.
Kerala was another story, 72-68 the final tally reading out like a 3rd quarter LA Lakers Vs. Boston Celtics score, the UDF winning the photo-finish race to the end. Even though the CPI (M) came out as the single largest party in the elections, it would have to sit in the opposition thanks to coalition politics. This could however prove a blessing in disguise for the defeated heroes as Oommen Chandy, Kerala’s Chief Minister in waiting will have to walk a tight rope managing different alliance partners likely to resort to pressure tactics to have their way.
These defeats are yet another blow to the already waning popularity of the left parties in India. The left party’s inability to produce sustainable development over the tenure in power and their incapability of projecting a developed future has been the primary cause of these rout.
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