Communist Rule Set to Fall in West Bengal, India
- 13 years ago
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Three decades of communist rule in the Indian state of West Bengal may be ending. Preliminary vote counts in a regional election give the ruling Congress-led coalition an almost unassailable lead. Here's that report.
India's ruling Congress-led coalition is poised to overturn three decades of communist rule in the swing state of West Bengal, with early vote counts placing them in a dominant position.
It is one of several regional poll victories that could give some respite for a beleaguered Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The good showing for Congress may restore some political authority for the 78-year-old Singh... after the country's worst ever corruption scandal has paralyzed the government for months and hit foreign investment in Asia's third-largest economy.
The results may also define how aggressively the left-of-centre government moves ahead with long-awaited reforms such as raising fuel prices and a land acquisition bill for farmers and industry.
With neither of the main national parties, Congress and BJP, able to secure majorities in general elections, electoral power in India comes down to forging coalitions with regional allies, who often have checkered records.
India's 28 states, with strong linguistic and cultural identities, have a high degree of autonomy and their leaders are some of the most important power brokers in India, often blocking policies by the federal government.
West Bengal sends 42 lawmakers to parliament and its long domination by the communists has been one of the biggest reasons India's founding socialist ideas retain political currency even after two decades of market reforms.
Three decades of communist rule in the Indian state of West Bengal may be ending. Preliminary vote counts in a regional election give the ruling Congress-led coalition an almost unassailable lead. Here's that report.
India's ruling Congress-led coalition is poised to overturn three decades of communist rule in the swing state of West Bengal, with early vote counts placing them in a dominant position.
It is one of several regional poll victories that could give some respite for a beleaguered Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The good showing for Congress may restore some political authority for the 78-year-old Singh... after the country's worst ever corruption scandal has paralyzed the government for months and hit foreign investment in Asia's third-largest economy.
The results may also define how aggressively the left-of-centre government moves ahead with long-awaited reforms such as raising fuel prices and a land acquisition bill for farmers and industry.
With neither of the main national parties, Congress and BJP, able to secure majorities in general elections, electoral power in India comes down to forging coalitions with regional allies, who often have checkered records.
India's 28 states, with strong linguistic and cultural identities, have a high degree of autonomy and their leaders are some of the most important power brokers in India, often blocking policies by the federal government.
West Bengal sends 42 lawmakers to parliament and its long domination by the communists has been one of the biggest reasons India's founding socialist ideas retain political currency even after two decades of market reforms.