Lok Sabha election: Cong to go solo in Bengal, fumes at Left

The decision has been announced by state Congress chief Somen Mitra.

In a press brief, Mitra accused the Left of not adhering to the norms of an alliance, which had suffered a crushing defeat in the 2016 West Bengal Assembly polls.

The veteran politician hit out at Left for announcing their own candidate list in 25 seats while the talks were ongoing over the alliance. Also one of the Left candidates has been claimed by Mitra to be a Congress man.

"Announcing the candidate list in their own way is against the ethics of an alliance," the state Congress chief said.

The first candidate list, which was announced by Left on Mar 15, consists of Purulia and Basirhat seats where both the parties wanted to field their own candidates.

All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) candidate Bir Singh Mahato and CPI's Pallab Sengupta will fight the elections from Purulia and Basirhat seats respectively.

However, Left Front chairman Biman Bose had said the Congress was free to field its own candidates in Purulia and Basirhat if they feel.

With Congress deciding to go solo in the polls, West Bengal will witness a fight between four parties including Trinamool Congress (TMC), Left and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

While TMC has already kick-started their campaign after announcing their candidate list, BJP is yet to announce their nominated candidates.

The eastern state will go to polls in all seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections 2019, which will begin on Apr 11 and end on May 19.

In the 2014 General Election, the Congress and Left had won four and two Lok Sabha seats.

Image Credit: Somen Mitra Twitter