The honeymoon between Congress and CPI(M) in Bengal is over with Left Front chairman Biman Bose accusing the former of fielding its candidate without informing the partner for the proposed Rajya Sabha election.
The Congress has re-nominated Pradip Bhattacharya for the Rajya Sabha. Congress and CPI(M) had entered into an unofficial alliance before 2016 Assembly elections without the approval of the Politburo which had described the alliance as "not in consonance with the decision of the Central Committee" and reprimanded the CPI(M) state unit. Despite this, CPI(M) and the Congress continued to have an alliance in the by-elections which had been held post 2016 Assembly polls.
The Congress had even agreed to send Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary for Rajya Sabha. But Politburo did not allow Yechury to contest. Finding no other option, Congress re-nominated Bhattacharya.
Bose said the Left Front was looking for a non-political person for Rajya Sabha. However, it later nominated Bikas Bhattaharya, former Mayor.
Criticising the move, Mamata Banerjee said: "How could the former Mayor be a non-political man. We will back Pradip Bhattacharya and he will win the poll."
A complication has developed over Bikas Bhattacharya's nomination. He filed his nomination at 3.02 pm, just two minutes behind the stipulated time. The returning officer sent his nomination papers to the Election Commission of India for its observation.
The ECI has returned the papers along with a copy of a judge of the Supreme Court which stated that no nomination paper that had been submitted after 3 pm will be accepted. It also asked the returning officer to take a decision in the matter on Saturday.
The Trinamool Congress has renominated three of its candidates, Derek O' Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Dola Sen and nominated two fresh candidates, Manas Bhunia and Shanta Chhetri. All its candidates have won.
Trinamool MLAs will give their second preference to Bhattacharya assuring his victory.
Even if Bikas Bhattacharya becomes a candidate, he has no chance of going to the Rajya Sabha.