Trinamool now a national party

It may be recalled that when Mamata Banerjee was the lone TMC MP and all other party colleagues had tasted defeat, CPIM had ridiculed the party. The tables turned in 2011 when Trinamool Congress stormed to power with Mamata Banerjee at it’s helm, CPIM tasted its first defeat after 34 years. 

It (CPIM) then started to spread the message that Banerjee would not be able to complete the five year term because TMC was an unorganised party and there was infighting. Before the 2016 Assembly Election, CPIM realised that an alliance with the Congress was essential for their survival and even went against the Central Committee’s decision to maintain equidistance from BJP and Congress. 

However, the party’s Central Committee later declared the alliance as “not in consonance with the party’s Central Committee’s decision.” In 2016 Assembly Elections, Trinamool got 211 seats while CPIM was reduced to 28 MLAs. Forward Block, RSP and CPI together acounted for 6 MLAs. Congress has 42 MLAs, while BJP has only 3 MLAs.

Both Congress and Left Front are fast losing control over the Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitys and Zilla Parishads as every other day some of their leaders are joining TMC. Both the parties are facing massive erosion in their support base.