CPM negotiates with LF allies for panchayat seats

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 15: To stop the RSP from the ‘go it alone’ policy, the Malda CPI-M has offered at least three zilla parishad seats to the RSP candidates after a long interaction with them. But till this evening nothing has been finalised in a bipartite meeting for seat sharing with the RSP. When the RSP leaders were preparing to file at least 50 per cent seats in gram panchayat (GP), panchayat samiti (PS) and zilla parishad (ZP) in many blocks the top CPI-M leaders repeatedly asked the RSP leaders to submit their demands for zilla parishad seat in yesterday's meeting. They also discussed if ZP seat adjustment between the CPI-M and the RSP would be possible if the RSP would adjust seats with the CPI-M in GP and PS level. “The CPI-M workers would not approach voters to cast votes for the RSP candidate for ZP seat if there are several RSP candidates contesting against the CPI-M in GP and PS level,” a senior CPI-M leader warned the RSP leaders in the meeting yesterday. Political sources said the district CPI-M leaders discussed the performance of the RSP candidates, who had contested in nine ZP seats in last panchayat polls, finally considering three of them. “The dialogue is on to finalise three ZP seats in Kaliachak I and III and in Ratua,” RSP sources said. Sources said the CPI-M has finalised ZP seat adjustments with the CPI, Forward Block and Socialist party, offering them one each. It is learnt though the CPI demanded four ZP seats but has only been allotted one. The CPI-M has reportedly asked them to give up their winning seat in Bamongola and one ZP seat has been allotted in Chanchal area. Though the LF has allotted one ZP seat to the FB but the leaders of the FB could not finalise its candidate due to internal squabbling. The FB MLA from Harishchandrapur is playing a vital role to finalise candidate. After a long discussion with the Socialist party, seat adjustment has been finalised in Habibpur block after offering one ZP seat. In Gazole the Socialist party is still adamant to field its candidates in GP and PS ignoring the LF alliance theory.