Sir — This refers to the editorial, “A giant leap” (March 5). At a time when the Modi Government was already facing the law of diminishing returns in its erstwhile strongholds of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the BJP annexing the country’s North-East is spectacular. Ever since Mamata Banerjee successfully worsted the CPI(M) in West Bengal, the left has been with its back to the wall. Its inability to jettison a tired and unimaginative leadership has now knocked over Tripura. Kerala has always been iffy and the CPI(M)’s dominance there is not assured; Kerala’s time of reckoning could come in the 2019 general election.
The BJP, which was smart with its alliances in the North-East, seems to have been able to successfully pitch the promise of development.