Kerala is stumbling block for Congress-Left Bengal pact

The upcoming Kerala Assembly polls have become a stumbling block in the coming together of the Congress and the Left in the West Bengal Assembly elections against the ruling Trinamul Congress led by Mamata Banerjee. This is because the Congress and the Left, which are arch rivals in Kerala, cannot become allies in West Bengal.

The states are going to polls in the next four to five months. “If we fight separately, then it will ensure a second term to Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal,” said a senior Congress leader and a sitting MP, indicating that the party is in a dilemma on who its natural allies and prospective partners are.

The Congress had fought the last West Bengal Assembly polls in alliance with the Trinamul Congress against the Left Front. Now, the Congress, Left and even the BJP cannot defeat the Trinamul Congress if they fight separately.

Interestingly, the Congress’ alliance or tactical understanding with the Left in Bengal could weaken its winning chances in Kerala, because the LDF is the main rival of the Congress-led ruling UDF.

If the Congress loses Kerala and fails to retain its current number of MLAs in Assam, which is also going to polls next year, then these developments will have a bearing on the crucial Punjab Assembly elections to be held early 2017.