World's longest-serving elected communist government loses power in Indian state - Polidicks

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646[/url] [list][*]After governing West Bengal for 34 years, the Marxist [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_India_(Marxist)]Communist Party of India[/url] has been thrust from power in a landslide victory for the social democratic Trinamool Congress. [*]The Communist Party had been re-elected seven times, but has come to be blamed for the state's economic decline and suffered a massive defeat - losing 171 of its 233 seats and coming third in the election. Among the seats lost were the party leader's, along with those of many other senior members of the party.[/list] [quote=BBC News][b]The world's longest-serving democratically-elected communist government has lost elections in the Indian state of West Bengal.[/b] The communists - in power since 1977 but now blamed for the state's economic decline - have conceded defeat. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) is on course to win a landslide. In Tamil Nadu, a key ally of the governing Congress party has also been defeated following allegations of corruption which have rocked India. Vote counting is also taking place in two other states and the union territory of Pondicherry. The communists are facing a stiff challenge in the southern state of Kerala. In Assam in the north-east the Congress party looks set to be returned with a large majority. Correspondents say the results again prove that the focus has shifted to regional parties in Indian politics. The elections also provide a distraction from corruption scandals which have dogged the government for months. Although Congress will be pleased its ally has done so well in West Bengal, results from the south may give the party pause for thought ahead of general elections due by 2014. In Tamil Nadu support for its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), has slumped. In Kerala, Congress, which won 16 of 20 seats in the last general election, has also seen its vote share significantly eroded. Correspondents also point out that the mercurial Ms Banerjee will negotiate from a position of strength in future alliance talks, and her participation cannot be taken for granted. [b]'End to autocracy'[/b] Ms Banerjee is a crucial federal ally of the Congress party and the two parties fought the election together. She says the communists have failed West Bengal's 90 million people by causing its economic decline. "This is a victory of democracy, victory of 'Maa, Maati Manush' [mother, land and people]," Ms Banerjee told her supporters after early trends gave her party a massive majority. "We will give good governance. There will be an end to autocracy and atrocities. This is the victory of people against years of oppression," she said. The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Calcutta says a large number of supporters have gathered outside her house, waving TMC flags and chanting victory slogans. By early afternoon India time, and with most votes counted, the scale of the communist defeat was clear and outgoing Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya tendered his resignation to the state governor. Provisional results on the Election Commission website show the left-wing alliance winning only about a quarter of the 235 seats they took in 2006. Mr Bhattachary lost his seat in the rout, as did most other leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). [b]'Anti-incumbency'[/b] In Tamil Nadu, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) opposition party, led by former film actress J Jayalalitha, has also won a landslide. Ms Jayalalitha's supporters have already begun distributing sweets and dancing in the state capital, Madras (Chennai). Her rival, DMK party leader Karunanidhi, has tendered his resignation. Correspondents say the DMK, a federal ally of Congress, is blamed by many for power cuts and price rises in Tamil Nadu. The anti-incumbency factor is also thought to have played a role in its defeat, as well as accusations that the state government failed to speak up for Sri Lankan Tamils. In Assam, Congress seems to be heading back to power with a large majority, while Kerala appears too close to call. More than 140 million people were eligible to vote in the assembly elections held over April and May.[/quote]

Hooray for democracy

[QUOTE=furious_d;29800630]Hooray for democracy[/QUOTE] The communist party formerly in power was elected democratically, the people chose for them to be in power for so long.

[QUOTE=Micr0;29800675]The communist party formerly in power was elected democratically, the people chose for them to be in power for so long.[/QUOTE] ...And when the people perceived they were the cause of problems, they elected members of another party. Hence, hooray for democracy with no sarcastic or ironic intent. [editline]13th May 2011[/editline] Although the "Victory of democracy" and whatnot in the actual article is silly

[QUOTE=furious_d;29800630]Hooray for democracy[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Baldr 2.0;29800748]Democracy without bombs or war? Impossible.[/QUOTE] "World's longest serving [B]elected[/B] communist government" You know contrary to popular belief communism does not always equal dictatorship.

[QUOTE=Jsm;29800791]"World's longest serving [B]elected[/B] communist government" You know contrary to popular belief communism does not always equal dictatorship.[/QUOTE] Just most of the time.

[QUOTE=Micr0;29800675]The communist party formerly in power was elected democratically, the people chose for them to be in power for so long.[/QUOTE] That's why I said it. Voting is good.

I find it funny how they say 'End to autocracy' even though there was no autocracy involved. An autocratic state is governed by a single entity, the people have no say in who the leader of the country is or what they do. If the communist party was elected democratically, then an autocratic government obviously can't exist.

You can't blame the government if they were repeatedly elected for 34 years. "End to a non existent autocracy that was elected and governed with communist ideals"

[QUOTE=furious_d;29800854]That's why I said it. Voting is good.[/QUOTE] I was under the impression that you believed that only now, democracy has been introduced to the state. I apologize.

[QUOTE=Baldr 2.0;29800980]I refuse to believe that. Communist propaganda right there.[/QUOTE] Haha you're stupid.

I tried to put "[i]democratically[/i] elected" in the title, but it was too long

That's a shame I guess. I'm glad the party replacing them is a Social Democratic one rather than some Centre-Right or Far Right party.

Everything turned out better than expected?

[QUOTE=erazor;29801465]Everything turned out better than expected?[/QUOTE] That remains to be seen. It depends if the new party can do better. [editline]13th May 2011[/editline] Also, did they just lose power in the West Bengal state congress, or across the entire country?

[QUOTE=Megafanx13;29801642]That remains to be seen. It depends if the new party can do better. [editline]13th May 2011[/editline] Also, did they just lose power in the West Bengal state congress, or across the entire country?[/QUOTE] West Bengal state congress

Just researched it, and I feel it's worth pointing out that it was just West Bengal where the Communist party lost power. They still rule the state of Tripura, but hold the third largest amount of seats in the lower house of the national assembly, under the coalition of "Left Front". The ruling coalition is of course the one winning this election, a coalition of Centre-Left parties. [editline]13th May 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=smurfy;29801668]West Bengal state congress[/QUOTE] Quite.

[QUOTE=Megafanx13;29801707]Just researched it, and I feel it's worth pointing out that it was just West Bengal where the Communist party lost power. They still rule the state of Tripura, but hold the third largest amount of seats in the lower house of the national assembly, under the coalition of "Left Front". The ruling coalition is of course the one winning this election, a coalition of Centre-Left parties. [editline]13th May 2011[/editline] Quite.[/QUOTE] It does say that pretty clearly in the OP and title of the thread

[QUOTE=smurfy;29801740]It does say that pretty clearly in the OP and title of the thread[/QUOTE] I was just shedding additional light on similar topics, such as their prominence in Tripura, but yeah, I guess I did re-state what you said.