Cracks appear in Left Front support base of Alipurduar

Cracks appear to have developed in the support base of the Left Front in the bastion of Alipurduar since 1977.

Cracks appear to have developed in the support base of the Left Front in the red bastion of Alipurduar (ST) parliamentary constituency which has been returning Left Front candidates since 1977.

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The reason is the unrest in the tea gardens in the Dooars region where closure of the gardens one after the other had spawned anti-leftist feeling.

The resentment is growing by the day and a section of the disgruntled workers have already shifted their loyalty to the Congress, BJP or SUCI-led trade unions in the constituency which consists of Alipurduar, Falakata, Nagrakata, Madarihat, Kalchini and Kumargram assembly segments in Jalpaiguri district and Tufanganj assembly segment in adjoining Cooch Behar district.

Political observers here predict a tough going for the RSP's candidate, Joachim Buxla, who is seeking re-election for the third time.

Lack of improvement and inordinate delay in the settlement of the 21 year old land problem in the Dooars have also caused widespread resentment against the Left Front which may reduce Buxla's chances further.

Buxla is, however, confident of victory as anti-left votes will be divided.