Left Front allies RSP, PDS lambast Congress tie-up

This is for the first time when a Front partner has criticised Congress in such harsh words and held the party responsible for complicating the alliance process. “It is Congress that has complicated the alliance process and because of the party the picture of alliance is not clear till today,” Goswami said.

Goswami said the party had given four seats to Congress to stop division of votes. It was unfortunate that CPI(M) was supporting Congress against our candidate. In Alipurduar, RSP has fielded Nirmal Das, party’s veteran leader and who was the MLA from 2006-11. Against Das, Congress has fielded a candidate and it is unfortunate that CPI(M) is backing the Congress candidate”. He said the interest of the party had been badly hit because of the alliance but still the party decided to back the alliance as the interest of the Left Front was most important. In Malda and Murshidabad, Congress has fielded candidate against RSP and the candidates are getting backed by the CPI(M).

Political experts said that in 22 constituencies there was a possibility of friendly fights provided the Left Front partners did not withdraw their candidates. In Murshidabad, Congress has a strong base and it has made the alliance with CPI(M) knowing well that the RSP minus CPI(M) is nothing.

In Malatipur, Suti, Raghunathgunj, Baroan, Nawda, Bharatpur, Alipurduar, Tapan and Kalchini, RSP has fielded candidates and there will be a triangular fight if these candidates do not withdraw in favour of the Congress candidates.  “We have to watch what Congress decides in these seats and will take a decision later on,” said Goswami. PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism) has distanced itself from the alliance after Congress fielded its candidate in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas.

This has affected the alliance. It has happened on a day when RSP has refused to sacrifice any more seats for the alliance. It has already sacrificed four seats in favour of Congress. PDS chief Samir Putatunda said flouting the principle of alliance, Congress had fielded its candidate in Kakdwip and under no circumstances such arrogance of Congress will be tolerated. PDS will field its candidates in 28 seats. It may be mentioned that PDS was set up by Saifuddin Chowdhury, a CPI(M) central committee member who was dropped from the committee and later thrown out of the party for opposing the party’s view that the Congress should be thrown out and if needed party would vote for BJP.  He was the deputy leader in Parliament. In the 15th party meet held in Chandigarh in April, 1995 he was dropped from the party. Putatunda said that under no circumstances the party would accept anything that had affected interest of the party. 

He said “Congress is not following any principle and is trying to take Left Front for a ride. It has held its discussion with the CPI(M) ignoring the Left Front and also the like-minded parties who are fighting to end Trinamool Congress’ misrule and  BJP’s rule in Centre. Meanwhile, former West Bengal Congress chief Somen Mitra’s name figured in the list of 13 candidates released by the AICC for West Bengal polls. Mitra has been fielded from his traditional stronghold Chowringhee. Candidates in five seats have been changed. 

Hasanuzzaman Sheikh has been fielded from Kaliganj in place of Kabil Uddin Sheikh, Alberuni Zulkmaiin from Malatipur in place of Hemant Sharma, Sujit Patowari from Joynagar replacing Tapas Kumar Baidya, Fanibhushan Giri from Patharpratima in place of Kaustabh Raut and Pratapkanti Roy from Krishnaganj replacing Biswanath Biswas.