Rebellion of RSP against LF directive

 

COOCH BEHAR, April 23: Not only the Forward Bloc but also the RSP is not ready to abide by the directive of the CPI-M led Left Front in Cooch Behar district. They had filed nominations in three Zilla Parishad seats though the Left Front allotted them no seat at the ZP tier. District RSP secretary Mr Gopal Chaki said today that they will not withdraw their candidates. He however said that they might discuss the issue at the party's district committee meeting before the last date of withdrawal of nominations.

 

It may be mentioned here that the RSP had filed nominations at three ZP seats – Tufanganj-II, Dinhata-II and Haldibari. In total 29 seats the CPI-M took 18 and the Forward Bloc 9. Two seats are still lying as disputed ones between the CPI-M and the FB. No ZP seats were allotted to other LF parties like CPI and RSP.

 

A meeting of the district Left Front was held on Monday. After that meeting the district Left Front convenor and the district CPI-M secretary Mr Chandi Pal had said that the RSP agreed to withdraw its three ZP candidates in the greater interest of Left Front unity. The RSP and other LF partners agreed to maintain LF unity during the election process, he had claimed.

 

Today, the district RSP secretary said, it was decided at the left Front's 14 April meet that all local LF leaders will work for achieving total unity at Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samity tiers. This process was to be completed by 16 April at sub-divisional level. The LF partners were asked to complete bipartite talks among themselves by that deadline following the Left Front's guideline on seat sharing. But, till today it was not done, Mr Chaki alleged. "In that meeting they requested us to withdraw our candidates but no decision was taken enforcing us to lift our candidates", he said. "Now, the party will decide its stand at its district committee meeting", Mr Chaki added.

 

On the otherhand, district CPI-M secretary Mr Chandi Pal quipped that the RSP has no strong organisational base to win even in Gram Panchayat seats. Hence, they should not dream to be elected in ZP seats. For the greater interest of the Left Front unity they should withdraw their candidates, he suggested. []