ELECTION

Leftist Pranibondhus want polling duty

COOCH BEHAR, March 16: In their district conference a CITU dominated union have raised demand to be included in polling duty. On the otherhand, it asked its members to participate in campaigns in favour of the Left Front candidate. In this perspective, it is clear what the leftists may do if they get engaged in election duty, commented leaders of Opposition parties.

The second district conference of Pashchimbanga Pranibondhu Samanway Samiti (PPSS) was held at Atithi Nivas in Cooch Behar today. Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Mr Dilip Biswas inaugurated the conference.

After tabling of the secretarial report by Mr Anjan Kumar Sinha an eight-point charter of demands has been adopted at the conference. Engagements in polling duty and also in work for correction of voter lists are among the demands raised in the report.

In the programme of the association it was mentioned that the members would participate in campaigns in favour of the Left Front candidate. It also declared its plan to organise united movements in favour of the Left Front's industrialisation policy and against anti-LF designs.

In the secretarial report, the secessionist efforts of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, Greater Cooch Behar movement and Jharkhandi movement have been criticised. The PPSS would fight against any bid to divide West Bengal, the report said.

Commenting over the matter, district Trinamul Congress vice-president Mr Niranjan Dutta said one can imagine what the CITU men may do if they get any chance to do polling duty. The Trinamul Congress may convey the matter to the Election Commission, Mr Dutta said.

As the CITU is yet to officially recognise the PPSS, it adopted a decision today to take membership of the CITU. From now on the PPSS will organise stir for absorption of Pranibondhus as government employees and a monthly wage of Rs 6,000 till absorption, life insurance coverage for Rs 2-lakh and health insurance coverage of Rs 50,000.