Left-handed Idyll

Except for the loss of two zilla parishads, the LF has swept the 2003 panchayat polls, marginalising all opposition. The LF tally: 29,720 gram panchayat seats, as against 3,417 seats won by the Trinamool-bjp combine and 3,128 of the Congress. Panchayat samiti seats: LF 283 out of 329, 26 for the Congress and 3 for the Trinamool-BJP. Zilla parishad: 16 for the LF, 2 for the Congress. The latter’s relatively better showing was expected. The party has been building on its mass support. The Trinamool-BJP combine has only itself to blame. Its leaders didn’t budge out of Calcutta, leaving the cadre demoralised.