In political circles here, it is believed that the CPI(M)’s bid to campaign with Suhrid Dutta, who was bailed out just before the elections, backfired. Dutta and another accomplice were convicted of the murder of Tapasi by a lower court, but the Calcutta High Court granted them bail. Dutta then became the main campaign manager for the CPI(M) in Singur. The move, CPI(M) top brass accept, was a mistake. Balai Sabui, the CPI(M) district committee member in charge of Singur said, “People did not accept Suhrid Dutta. Our approach in handling the entire factory issue will have to be re-evaluated. Setiments about Tapasi Malik’s death worked more than industrialisation.”

At their Bajemelia home, Tapasi’s parents Monoranjan and Molina Malik feel vindicated. “People have given their verdict. The CPI(M) showcased a murder accused, they took out a CD tarnishing my daughter’s image,” said Monoranjan, who campaigned for Trinamool.

A section of youth, whose hopes for jobs in the car factory were dashed, have also started blaming the Left Government rather than Mamata Banerjee. “I used to work in the factory and now I’m jobless. The state Government failed to keep the industry. Why blame Mamata? She said, ‘let’s have the industry in 600 acres’,” said Monimohan Bangal, 27, whose family had accepted compensation for their land from Tata.

Bolstered by their victory, Trinamool leaders in Singur are preparing for a renewed agitation. “The people here, especially SCs and Muslims, voted for us, overpowering the CPI(M)’s campaign of labelling Mamata Banerjee as anti-industry,” said Becharam Manna, party pointsman in Singur. “Next month, we will restart our agitation against forcible land acquisition for industry here.”