Calcutta Capers

It's unthinkable. Leaders of the CPI(M), the most militant section of the parliamentaryLeft in India are going hi-tech in their political campaign in Bengal, where they haveresisted the use of computers for years! Well, now Manab Mukherjee, the Minister for Tourism, has broken the mould and used the facilities of Caltiger to use the Internet to broadbase his appeal to the electorate of Beliaghata constituency in Calcutta where he is a candidate. The message runs as follows: "Have you decided yet, whom to vote for in Beliaghata? There can be only one answer: Manab Mukherjee, thrice winner from this area. For more details, click here." Caltiger sources say Mukherjee is not the only one, two other prominent CPI(M) leaders are also in touch, who would like to followsuit.

Several questions intrigue observers. Why have the other parties, which did not opposecomputers, not thought of the Internet, although they make an issue of the CPI(M)’sopposition to automation? More interestingly what has prompted the CPI(M) to go online? ACPI(M) spokesman explains, "We had gone online long ago, with separate websites forthe party mouthpiece Ganashakti and the headquarters.

Also, both Jyoti Basu and his successor Buddhadev Bhattacharya have always given priority to the establishment of a hi-tech base in Bengal and only now the semblance of a software centre in the East is coming up in Calcutta. Even the CITU has an E-mail address."

True. Today, computers grace the office of the state party secretary Anil Biswas, notthat anyone has seen him actually working on one. All this when other parties like theCongress, the Trinamool Congress or the BJP have not bothered to move, despite theiravowed support for new technology. Caltiger sources say people from other parties too aretalking to them. The explanation still leaves other questions unanswered.

With its professed concern for the poor and the backward, why does Mukherjee considerit important to use the Internet to reach voters? He himself approached the company whichexplained to him its "narrowcazter" concept. Through this, advertisers can choose and target their audience, advertising and even paying online. The response can be monitored and depending on the reaction, can be continued or discontinued. However, Internet users are not exactly known for their poverty. Does the party wish to project a new investor-friendly face for the future? The key lies with Caltiger authorities, who point out that even in Beliaghata, not the most upmarket of Calcutta suburbs, there are now around 7,500 Internet surfers, while all over the region their subscribers number over 100,000. The company’s equity base is touching Rs 370 million.

"By turning netizens, Left leaders could well remove misconceptions -- if any --among middle/upper middle class voters in Bengal about the programmes and intentions ofthe Left as a whole. Why, it will enable the average voter/person to chat with Mukherjeeand others online," says a company spokesman. Yes, provided they have the time andthe inclination to reply. What could be more transparently democratic than that?