Kolkata, Nov. 5 -- Putting an end to speculation, the Left Front has ruled out any electoral understanding with either Trinamool Congress faction for the forthcoming municipal elections in Bengal, while keeping the door open to an arrangement with the Congress.
Left leaders decided at a meeting on Wednesday, after speculation about a possible rapprochement followed Mamata Banerjee and Left leaders sharing a platform at an Opposition gathering in New Delhi.
The Left leadership made it clear that there would be no seat-sharing arrangement with the Trinamool for the civic polls.
However, the possibility of an understanding with the Congress remains open. The Adhir Chowdhury faction is opposed to an alliance with the Trinamool, although a section of the state Congress leadership is reportedly not averse to such an arrangement. The latter, however, has refrained from making its position public.
The CPI(M) has entrusted its district committees with preparations for the municipal elections and candidate selection. In Kolkata, the Left Front will begin bilateral discussions with its constituent parties on seat-sharing, particularly after the number of Kolkata Municipal Corporation wards increased from 144 to 209.
Sources said the Left may keep a few seats vacant for the Congress and decide on an understanding at a later stage. No seats, however, will be reserved for the Trinamool.
CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said cooperation with the Trinamool under the INDIA bloc at the national level would not translate into an electoral alliance in Bengal.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.