Signs of internal discord have surfaced within the Left camp ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, with the All India Forward Bloc openly expressing dissatisfaction over the recently announced candidate list.
The party has accused the CPI(M) of unilaterally announcing a candidate for the Jalpaiguri Sadar Assembly constituency — considered a traditional stronghold of the Forward Bloc — without prior consultation. In protest, the Jalpaiguri district leadership of the party has issued a three-day ultimatum, warning of an independent electoral contest if their demands are not addressed.
Amal Goswami, Vice-President of the party’s district unit, criticised the decision, stating that despite being a constituent of the Left Front, the party was sidelined during the candidate selection process. “We are a partner party within the Left Front. Yet, without any consultation, a candidate from another party has been announced for our traditional seat. This is unacceptable,” he said.
The Jalpaiguri Sadar seat has historically been represented by the Forward Bloc, notably in 2006 when its candidate Gobinda Roy secured victory. Breaking from this precedent, the CPI(M) has now fielded Debraj Barman from the constituency—
a move the Forward Bloc has described as “unilateral.”
Reiterating the party’s stance, Goswami stated, “We are giving the Left Front a three-day window. If a candidate from our own party is not announced for our seat within this timeframe, we will contest the election independently.” Invoking the legacy of Subhas Chandra Bose, he added, “Netaji never compromised with injustice, and neither will we.”
The party’s dissatisfaction extends beyond a single constituency. According to Goswami, the Forward Bloc had submitted its own candidate list to the Left Front in advance, but it was not given due consideration. “Our candidates have won elections in the past and built the organisation from the ground up. Yet, another partner party is fielding candidates in our traditional seats— this is deeply disappointing,” he said.
He further indicated that the party may consider contesting independently in multiple constituencies across the district if the issue remains unresolved, raising concerns about growing fissures within the Left alliance.
Responding to the allegations, CPI(M) District Secretary Piyush Mishra dismissed the claims, asserting that the state leadership of the Forward Bloc was present during the announcement. “The list was declared with their full consent. We have nothing further to add,” he said.
The public airing of grievances by a key ally has intensified concerns over unity within the Left Front at a crucial juncture. Whether the alliance can resolve the dispute within the stipulated three-day period remains to be seen, as political observers closely watch
developments in Jalpaiguri.
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