WEST BENGAL- It Began on October 2

surprised many of his supporters and lowered his prestige. The common comment is that just as Pandit Nehru became a prisoner in the hands of his Rightist partymen, Namboodiripad is becoming a captive of the 'Left' ultras in his own party. There is very considerable regret over this development, though the hope is expressed that the imprisonment will be neither complete nor permanent Personalities apart, there is urgent need in Kerala for the ruling coalition to strictly adhere to the very reasonable code of conduct that has been drawn up. It might also help if some Independent personality respected by all, or a group of such personalities, could be drawn into the work of ensuring adherence by all parties to this code and even of pronouncing as to which person or party is violating it. The bickerings may not have much significance for Kerala at the present time but they do affect the all-India polarisation of forces. They do damage the widespread belief that a democratic United Front is the next stage of India's political evolution.