WB Congress yet to decide on alliance with Left

In the wake of the CPI(M) Central Committee’s indication that the party is unwilling to spare Raiganj and Murshidabad Lok Sabha seats for Congress, the state Congress leadership said that they are yet to take a call on an alliance.

The Bengal Congress leadership in a late night release on Monday said that there are “constituency issues” involved in the discussion with the Left Front on an alliance in the state for the upcoming LS elections.

“As a result, we are yet to arrive at a conclusion. We have taken note of the statement by the CPI(M) Central Committee. After further negotiations we intend to submit our final recommendation to AICC and the Congress president,” stated the release.

Tug of war

Currently, CPI(M) and Congress are involved in a political tug-of-war over the Raiganj and Murshidabad seats, which the former won in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

"In West Bengal, the Central Committee had earlier decided that the CPI(M) will adopt suitable tactics to ensure maximisation of the pooling of anti-BJP, anti-TMC votes. Accordingly, the CPI(M) has decided against mutual contest in the six Lok Sabha seats currently held by Congress and the Left Front," stated the Central Committee statement.