Senior CPI(M) leaders will share the stage with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi when he addresses election rallies in Bengal on April 2, a move which will further consolidate the electoral tieup
Senior CPI(M) leaders will share the stage with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi when he addresses election rallies in Bengal on April 2, a move which will further consolidate the electoral tieup between the two parties ahead of the crucial Assembly election.
“It has been decided that former CPI(M) MP Bangsogopal Chowdhury and state committee member Gauranga Chatterjee will attend Mr Gandhi’s rallies in Burdwan and Bankura. Our party candidates will also be present,” CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said.
The AICC sent the invitation to CPI(M) headquarters in the state at Alimuddin street.
Mr Gandhi will address two rallies in Burdwan and one in Bankura on Saturday. The Congress wanted Mr Mishra to attend them. CPI(M) satraps discussed the Congress invitation at the party’s secretariat meeting. Mr Mishra will not be able to attend because of his prior engagements.
In Burdwan, Mr Gandhi will address a rally each at Durgapur and Kulti. On Wednesday, an SPG team inspected the venue of the Durgapur rally.
Workers of both camps were delighted at the news that CPI(M) leaders had agreed to share the stage with Congress leaders. Sources said Alimuddin street has directed party cadres to attend Mr Gandhi’s rallies in large numbers.
On March 7 when Left Front chairman Biman Bose had released the first list of candidates, he had categorically ruled out any joint campaign with the Congress.
“The Left Front will campaign from its platform, and Congress from its own platform. There will be no platform sharing on the campaign trail,” he had added.
Mr Bose had even scoffed at the reports that Congress’ hand symbol and CPI(M)’s sickle-hammer-star symbol have been shown together in poll graffiti and banner.
However, the coming together of the two parties galvanised their workers and sparked a mutual zeal for close coordination and bonhomie. Left and Congress candidates have been organising joint campaign meetings all across the state.
Correctly reading the pulse of grassroot workers, both state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury and CPI(M) state secretary Mr Mishra publicly urged their respective workers to extend full support to their ally. In fact, Mr Chowdhury and Mr Mishra will most likely share the stage in the latter’s Assembly constituency Narayangarh in West Midnapore.
