CPI(M)'s Bikas Bhattacharya's RS nomination cancelled

The nomination of CPI(M) candidate Bikas Bhattacharya for Rajya Sabha has been cancelled after it was found that he had submitted the documents beyond the stipulated time.

Bhattacharya, who was the former city Mayor, had submitted the documents required for the Rajya Sabha election on last Friday at 3.02 pm, two minutes beyond the stipulated time. The returning officer had sent all the documents to the Election Commission of India seeking its observation. The EC returned the papers with an order of the Supreme Court and asked the returning officer to take the decision. The retuning officer on Monday said that the Bhattacharya's nomination has been cancelled for submitting the papers late.

Political experts said Bengal CPI(M) had fielded Bhattacharya knowing well that he would not win just to oppose the Karat lobby that did not allow Sitaram Yechury's nomination for the third consecutive time. Congress had agreed to support Yehchury but the Central Committee of CPI(M) categorically stated that there should not be any alliance with Congress.

It may be recalled that the Politburo had said after the 2016 election that: "The alliance with Congress was not in consonance with the party's Central Committee's decision." But despite that, local CPI(M) went ahead with the alliance with Congress fielding joint candidates in the by-elections. The Bengal lobby could not take its sharp criticism after the Central Committee meeting held in New Delhi recently. The leaders belonging to the Karat lobby criticised their counterparts in Bengal for supporting Yechury for Rajya Sabha. As a protest, the Bengal lobby decided to field Bhattacharya.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress has decided to support Pradip Bhattacharya, Congress candidate in Rajya Sabha. Partha Chatterjee, minister for Parliamentary Affairs on Monday held a meeting with Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan and discussed the matter. Earlier, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had said that her party would support Bhattacharya.