Congress leaves 5 seats in Bengal for Left Front

Kolkata: In a dramatic twist in the battle of seat-sharing with the Left Front, the Congress on Wednesday announced that it will not  contest in five out of 42 seats in the ensuing Lok Sabha (LS) Elections in West Bengal, sending a message of political courtsey. The development came a day after the Left decided to not to field its candidates in four seats: Uttar Maldah, Dakshin Maldah, Jangipur and Berhampore, which were won by the Congress in the last LS polls, with a deadline of 24 hours before the Congress to respond.

The Congress also made it clear that it would not withdraw its candidates from Raiganj and Murshidabad seats which were won by the Left earlier. Calling spade a spade, the Left announced in the evening that it has fielded its candidates at Jangipur and Uttar Maldah. It is likely to field its candidates for Dakshin Maldah and Berhampore on Thursday. The Left’s move has ended the hope of a seat-sharing formula with the Congress.

In the morning, state Congress president Somen Mitra said, “We will not field our candidates in five seats: Asansol, Diamond Harbour, Arambagh, Bishnupur and Tamluk. We are leaving it for the Left. When the Left has not fielded its candidates in four seats, we will also not field our candidates in these five seats.” Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Bhattacharya said, “We are not asking the Left to convey its decision by 4.30 pm on Thursday. But we will certainly expected them to get back to us at the earliest. We always an alliance with the Left, not a seat-sharing formula.”

Significantly, none of the five seats left by the Congress was won by the Left in the last LS polls. While Babul Supriyo became a BJP MP from Asansol, chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s newphew and young Trinamul leader Abhishek Banerjee won from Diamond Harbour. Aparupa Poddar was elected as a Trinamul MP from Arambagh. Saumita Khan won as a Trinamul MP from Bishnupur before defecting to the BJP recently.

Suvendu Adhikari won as Trinamul MP from Tamluk before he resigned and contested to become an MLA and transport minister. His younger brother Dibyendu Adhikari won the seat in a by-poll.

On the Congress’ move CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty said, “If somebody has decided to not to contest the polls in five seats he can explain his decision.”