Tamluk and Contai are in East Midnapore, where the CPM was routed in 2008 rural polls and then in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. This time, the Left Front has fielded candidates only in 50 per cent seats since a massive number of party cadres have deserted it to join the Trinamool following the Nandigram police firing on March 14, 2007.

In Tamluk, the ruling alliance has fielded candidates just in nine seats. In the rest 11 seats, they are likely to support Independents.

In Contai, a traditional support base for the Trinamool, the Left Front has fielded candidates only in eight of the total 20 seats.

CPM sources said despite its intensive efforts to recover the lost ground in the area, reports from the field suggested its cadres were “still sleeping”.

The CPM had won Tamluk civic body polls in 2005 with a huge majority. But Prithwish Nandi, who became the chairman, joined the Trinamool two years later following the Nandigram firing. As a result, the control of the municipality passed into the hands of Trinamool.

Nandi, who is Trinamool’s face in the area this time, said the ruling alliance has lost popular support. “We are confident they will not be able to win any of the seats in Tamluk. In some places, they are backing independent candidates, but this strategy will not work at all,” said Nandi.