Nanda campaigns against CPM

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 13: The state fisheries minister Mr Kiranmay Nanda today campaigned in Gazole villages against the CPI (M)'s Zilla Parishad candidate and appealed for votes for Socialist Party candidate Mrs Sefali Sarkar. Villagers of Jalsa and Oltor sometimes could not diff-erentiate the minister of the LF government from a Congress or Trinamul or other anti Left party leader from his speech today. “It is a matter of regret that even after 31 years of L F regime, we could do little for tribal dominated backward areas like Gazole”, Mr Nanda said.“We claim to be the government for the poor and backward people but could not provide basic amenities for them. Villagers here have no road, drinking water and electricity”, he claimed. Addressing a rally in Gazole Mr Nanda said: “I have heard that our supporters are being threatened here. Our supporters would not be given ration card. Those who failed to provide you the basic amenities now are threatening in fear of defeat. Some people are propagating that our candidates are independents. I categorically claim that they belong to Socialist Party, a partner of the LF government”. It may be recalled that despite several attempts the district CPI (M) leaders failed to pacify SP district leaders for seat adjustment offering one Zilla Parishad seat to the S P's district secretary Mr Milan Das in Habibpur block area when it had claimed one more ZP seat in Gazole. A top CPI (M) leader Mr Surajit Roy in Gazole joined Socialist Party last year and decided to field its candidate here to prove SP's straight against the CPIM. On 11 May the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee campaigned at Bulbulchandi in Habibpur from where Mr Milan Das is contesting. Socialist Party district secretary Mr Milan Das claimed, “CPI (M) ignored our claim in the district LF meeting regarding seat adjustment although we had won 6 out of 14 GP seats in this area. Thus we had to field candidates looking at our strength and popularity among the people.” “It is true that we wanted alliance in all the area but it could not materialize. Partners are used to take this panchayet election as an opportunity to strengthen their organization. It is nothing new. In Midnapore East CPI (M) has fielded its candidate against ours,” Mr Nanda argued.