CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on April 9

THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the attacks and intimidation on three Left Front candidates within a couple of days.

Today, the CPI(M) candidate for Asansol parliamentary constituency, Gauranga Chatterjee was attacked by hoodlums of the coal mafia under TMC tutelage during his election campaign in Madanpur village under Barabani Police Station of the Paschim Bardhaman district.

Today itself, the CPI(M) candidate Dr Faud Halim from Diamond Harbour parliamentary constituency in South 24 Parganas district has been attacked and was seriously wounded by the ruling party hoodlums and had to be hospitalised.

Yesterday, Pallab Sen Gupta of the Communist Party of India contesting from Basirhat parliamentary constituency was attacked and threatened by the TMC hooligans with dare consequences if he dares to continue with the campaign.

While day-in and day-out the main stream corporate media often in the guise of so-called pre-poll surveys are gleefully predicting the demise of the Left in West Bengal, such murderous attacks actually underline the challenges that the Left pose for the undemocratic and authoritarian policies of the TMC who have been continuously denying the voting rights of large sections of the electorate. While condemning the attacks unequivocally, the Polit Bureau reiterates the resolve of the Party, the Left and the democratic minded people of the state that the Red Flag cannot be suppressed with such terror tactics. The Polit Bureau also urges the Election Commission of India to take effective measures to ensure free and fair polls in West Bengal as has been demanded several times in the past. We appeal to the democratic minded people in the state and the country to isolate these forces who are undermining the very process of democracy in West Bengal.