THE Left Front in West Bengal is fighting this election battle on four slogans: Remove Congress from power, Defeat BJP; Strengthen Left to build up non-Congress non-BJP secular alternative government and Defend and restore democracy in the state. In an appeal to the people of the state, the Left Front has called upon them to vote for the Left candidates to fight for the restoration of democracy in the state. Biman Basu, chairman, Left Front, has explained that the TMC government in the state is competing with the centre in following anti-people policies. The state is witnessing serious economic crisis with unhindered price rise, increasing unemployment, disaster in agriculture and deep crisis in industry. The state government has already taken loans from the market to the extent of more than Rs 60,000 crore. Lock outs in factories, closure in tea gardens have led to decline of work days. There is perceptible decline in education with all-round anarchy in educational institutions. Transport sector is facing acute crisis and public transport is gradually withering away. In the appeal, the Left Front has also outlined how the TMC government has become synonymous with corruption. In less than three years there occurred scams like Sharda Chit Fund, school teachers appointment examination or TET, huge misuse of fund in SJDA in North Bengal etc. Names of ministers and leaders of the ruling party have come to light in these mega corruption cases. Left Front has alleged that democracy was being throttled in the state. Elections to panchayat and municipalities have largely been rigged with thousands of voters denied their right. The media is being either lured or forced to toe the ruling party. Violence against women has reached gigantic proportions. Under this situation, the fight to protect the democratic rights is vital. NARROWING VOTE GAP Describing the Lok Sabha poll as "very important" for the Left, CPI(M) Politburo member Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has asserted that the vote gap between the Left and the Trinamool Congress was narrowing. "If you analyse the results of the 2011 assembly poll, you will see that the gap of votes between the Left and the TMC was just 30 lakh and that gap is decreasing in our favour," he told in an interview to a news agency. He said that the CPI(M) was trying to get back those who left it and expressed confidence that the Left Front would do well in the election. “We feel this election is very important for the Left and it is the only guarantee to protect interests of the people". Bhattacharjee said, "What happened in the last panchayat and municipal elections was not popular support. They (TMC) had created problems before and during the election. We have decided to resist their terror tactics in the Lok Sabha poll." "We have also seriously reviewed our position since the last Assembly poll and tried to find out where we have failed. Our introspection is that there were indeed some mistakes for which a section of our supporters left us. That is the most crucial issue. We are trying to win them back. A section of them are realising. We are openly telling them what were our mistakes," he said. Strongly pitching for industrialisation, Bhattacharjee said, "They (TMC government) have failed to create new job opportunities. No single investment came here in the last three years. After Wipro came, Infosys had said that it would come and together about 90,000 job opportunities would have been created. But nothing is happening now", he said. Commenting on the performance of the TMC government, the former chief minister said, "It is zero on all fronts, be it industry, agriculture, law and order, health or education. No road, no power station, no bridge, no hospital. Nothing is happening. Only there are stone-laying ceremonies. It is ridiculous," he said. Bhattacharjee said, "No woman in Bengal is secure and safe. It is a serious situation. During our tenure too there were some crimes against women. But during our tenure we had made sure that law takes its own course and the criminals are punished. Now the anti-socials are taking over." DOOR-TO-DOOR CAMPAIGNING Left Front has already started door-to-door campaign throughout the 42 constituencies. Large public meetings will only be held after the school examinations. In any case, Left Front has decided to concentrate on small meetings and face to face dialogue with the voters. The candidates are reaching deep into the villages and practically touring every nook and corner of the constituencies. The response from the people, particularly from the younger people, is quite enthusiastic. CPI(M) has published booklets on deception by the TMC, the true nature of TMC, corruption, violence against women, on misleading the minorities by TMC, Nandigram etc. Lakhs of copies have been printed and are being distributed by Left activists. There is growing intervention by the Left in the digital and social media too.