Setback for left at home

Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress wrested the Bishnupur seat from the CPI(M) on Sunday. Madan Mitra defeated his rival by over 30,000 votes.

Banerjee hailed the victory as a prelude to a new dawn in West Bengal even as the CPI(M) refused to describe it as a trendsetter. Shortly after the win, she told reporters that it signaled the restoration of democratic rights of the people in the state.

The Congress, which is trying to stitch an alliance with the Trinamool in Bengal, sent a message by withdrawing its candidate at Bishnupur. It has also shown the CPI(M) that one on one contests in the Lok Sabha could cost the Marxists dear.