After ruling West Bengal for 34 years, the Left Front saw its dominance collapse in 2011 - and has since struggled with questions over its relevance. Now, amid a mainly Trinamool Congress (TMC) versus Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) landscape, the Left is attempting a comeback, pitching itself as the only alternative focused on bread-and-butter issues.
At the forefront of this push is one of Left Front's promising candidate Dipsita Dhar, whose sharp, direct campaigning style has drawn comparisons with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Dipsita Dhar, a Students' Federation of India (SFI) leader fielded by the Left Front from Dum Dum Uttar seat for the Bengal assembly elections 2026, has done her PhD in Population Geography at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
In an exclusive interview with hindustantimes.com, Dhar speaks about the Left's decline, lessons from its years in power, and why she believes the party is poised for a political revival in Bengal.
She says the Left is relevant because it is the only alternative that talks about pro-people policies, and that its politics is not stuck in the binary of mandir and masjid.
Dhar also talks about the Left's plans to address issues like unemployment, municipal services, and education, and how it will create employment hubs and training centers to give people skills and opportunities.
She also addresses the issue of Lokkhi Bhandar scheme and how it is not enough to empower women, and that social and political empowerment are also necessary.
On the SIR issue, Dhar says it is counterproductive for every citizen of Bengal and that Mamata Banerjee should have played a counter role to BJP's fascist agenda.
She concludes by saying that people should vote for the Left if they want to defeat the BJP and TMC, and if they want a state where bread and butter issues are a priority.
