Politically, too, Bengal has been put at a disadvantage. In the May panchayat elections followed up by those to some civic bodies in July, the strident posturing of the Left’s leadership in Delhi against the nuclear deal had no positive impact on the rural vote bank. The Left Front was badly mauled in both elections. Significantly, the areas of erosion included the Left Front’s vote in minority belts. Should the party vote against the government during a motion of no-confidence — something the party has announced it will do — along with the BJP, the effect on its support among minority communities in West Bengal might well be even more disastrous.

If the current political mood is any indication, the air of contempt and revulsion at the turn of events is bound to result in a reduced kitty of Left Front MPs in Bengal. Comrades say that the situation is no better in Kerala, where bitter infighting is taking its toll. A reduced number of MPs translates into reduced bargaining power. So, with the Second July Crisis looming large on their personal horizons, the Marxists seem headed into a precarious and grim phase in politics.

subrata.nagchoudhury@expressindia.com