One of the Kolkata voter is describing the election season in West Bengal.
You are getting married and suddenly your ex-girlfriend (or boyfriend) shows up and rains on your parade: That was how at least one Kolkata voter is describing the election season in West Bengal. Many others agree with him.
Till the other day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was on a winning streak. But since then, veteran Left leader and former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee hit the campaign trail in Kolkata, the Left and Congress joined hands and Narada continues to sting. And a match that was won is, many voters believe, heading for a penalty kick off.
All this was food for thought at one of north Kolkata's most popular tea, toast and omelette joints on Wednesday - a day before polling in seven seats in north Kolkata.
This was just 2.5 kilometres away from the area where the Vivekananda flyover collapsed on March 31, killing 26 people. Occurring just days ahead of elections, the collapse had turned into a huge poll issue. The Left Front and the Trinamool Congress had blamed each other for the tragedy.
Smita Bakshi, the Trinamool candidate in the area, is related to a contractor, (Rajat Bakshi) accused of being hand-in-glove with the builders, IVRCL.
Of the seven seats in Kolkata that are voting, six belong to Trinamool while one belongs to the Left.
The hammer and the sickle flag, appearing together with the green, saffron and white of the Congress has given Kolkata pause. While the tie-up with the Congress has boosted the spirits in the Left camp, Mr Bhattarcharjee had sounded grim. "We have a big fight ahead," he had said.
The BJP, which is hoping to expand its footprint in Bengal, is contesting all seven seats in north Kolkata.