WB: Left Front Announces First List of Candidates
Subinoy Moulik
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ON March 14, the West Bengal Left Front announced its first list of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The list was released by Left Front chairman Biman Basu in a press conference. Later on March 17, the Left Front also nominated RSP candidate Mili Oraon to contest in Alipurduar, bringing the total number of declared candidates to 17, with room for potential additional candidates from Congress and others. The first phase of voting will take place on April 19, and will include Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar, where the Left Front has already announced candidates.
The first phase list released by the Left Front has 14 candidates contesting the Lok Sabha polls for the first time. Basu stated that while talks were ongoing with the Congress and the ISF, no final decision had been made. He added that there would be another meeting of the Left Front, and that there may be further discussions with Congress and ISF before and after that. This is why only 16 candidates were announced in the first list, in order to keep the dialogue open.
The Left Front is aiming to defeat the BJP and the Trinamool by forging an effective seat adjustment and fielding a single candidate from the anti-BJP, anti-TMC forces in as many seats as possible. CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim remarked that the index of opposition unity is important for a strong fight against the BJP and TMC. The Left Front hopes to engage in further discussions with the Congress and ISF in order to come to a final agreement on seat sharing and present a united opposition against the BJP and Trinamool in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Before the press conference, the Left Front meeting was held. After that, Biman Basu along with the Left Front leaders held the press meet and released the first round of candidate list. In 13 of the 16 constituencies, the CPI(M) candidates will contest on behalf of the Left Front while Forward Bloc, CPI and RSP will be contesting from one seat each. Forward Bloc’s Nitish Chandra Roy has been named as the Left Front’s candidate from Cooch Behar, CPI's Biplab Bhatta from Midnapore and RSP's Joydeb Siddhanta from Balurghat. Out of the 16 Left Front nominees, three are women – Saira Shah Halim from Kolkata South, SFI all India joint secretary Dipsita Dhar from Srirampur, and AIDWA state president Jahanara Khan from Asansol, all of the CPI(M). Among the fresh faces is the former SFI West Bengal state committee secretary Srijan Bhattacharya who contested from the Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency.
Biman Basu said that so far as the Left Front is concerned, no alliance would be forged but talks are on with Congress and ISF for seat adjustment to defeat BJP and Trinamool in Lok Sabha polls. There has been initial discussion between state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury and Mohammad Salim. But there will be more talks to finalise the seat adjustment. It may take some time for the state Congress to talk to the AICC leadership and make a decision. Meanwhile ISF has unilaterally announced candidates for eight seats. The ISF had earlier said it would contest from Diamond Harbour. But in talks with the Left Front they have expressed interest in Jadavpur. In the considered opinion of Left Front, Jadavpur Lok Sabha Constituency means not only Bhangar assembly constituency but also six other assembly constituencies, so Left Front is fielding its candidate in Jadavpur.
Apart from the newcomers, the senior leadership contesting the polls includes CPI(M) candidate for Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency CITU leader S M Sadi and CPI(M) candidate for Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency, Party Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty. As soon as the Left Front candidate list was announced, processions, wall writings and meetings have begun to be held in support of the respective candidates.
In the press conference, Basu said that the fact that seat adjustment with the Congress and the ISF has not yet been finalised does not mean that there will be no adjustment. However, the demand for seats in the negotiation process must be realistic. Our expectation is that in the election struggle ahead, people will come together in the upcoming election to fight against those who have created the main obstacles in their lives and livelihoods.
In response to a question, Salim said, "Discussions are going on with the Left Front partners and other allies regarding seat adjustment. We are also sharing our views with those who have said that they will fight this election against Trinamool and BJP. The experience is positive.''
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