December 13, 2024 14:51 (IST)
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WB polls: LF announces first list of candidates, Surya Mishra to lead battle
Kolkata, Mar 7 (IBNS): Amid a possibility of an alliance between the Congress and the Left Front (LF), the latter's chairman Biman Bose on Monday evening declared the first list of his party's candidates for upcoming Bengal assembly polls.
The Left Front has announced the name of 116 candidates in the first list.
"Today we are announcing 116 names and the rest contestant-names will be released soon in two or three phases. In this 116 contestants, 68 are fresh or new faces, 16 are women and 25 candidates are from minority communities," Biman Bose said.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)'s state general secretary and Bengal's opposition leader Surya Kanta Mishra is contesting from his previous place- Narayangarh constituency in West Midnapore district- and according to party sources, he is going to be the party's face for Bengal battle.
Mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Ashok Bhattacharya is participating in the election from Siliguri constituency in Darjeeling district, where former Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia is contesting under the logo of ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Top Left leaders including Rabin Deb, Shamik Lahiri, Anisur Rahman, Kanti Ganguly and Srikumar Mukherjee are contesting from Singur, Mahestala, Domkal, Raidighi and Itahar assembly constituencies.
Meanwhile, young faces of the party including Satarup Ghosh, Gargi Chaterjee and Kaustav Chatterjee are taking part in the battle from Kasba, Naihati and Behala West constituencies.
Former Lok Sabha MP and athlete Jyotirmoyee Sikdar is contesting from Sonarpur North assembly constituency.
Few former heavyweight ministers of last Left-ruled government including Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Nirupam Sen and Gautam Deb are not contesting in this election for their illness, party sources confirmed.
When he was asked about the Cong-Left alliance, Biman Bose told the media, "Besides Left Front, we are going to form a new greater front, where few other parties including JDU (Janata Dal-United) will be added. We have set a slogan for this election- 'Trinamool Hatao, Bangla Bachao. BJP Hatao, Desh Bachao.' (Drive away TMC, save West Bengal. Drive away BJP, save India). Those parties, which believe and support this slogan, can join us in this battle."
"We will make an understanding with Congress in this election. We are neither forming an alliance and front nor sharing a same platform. Please try to understand the difference between 'understanding' and 'platform-sharing'," Bose added.
Tthe LF chairman also said that the party will release its election manifesto in party's official website in next few days.
"We have published our manifesto today in our website. But for few corrections and additions, we had to withdraw it later. We will be posting a fresh manifesto in next few days. People of Bengal and media personnel can add opinion in the manifesto. Good opinions or advices will be given importance," Bose concluded.
Political experts said that the Lefts' decision to publish candidates list suddenly, could affect the coalition effort.
The assembly polls in the state will be commencing from April 4.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
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