Lok Sabha Election 2024
CPM Gives Up Hope of ISF, Talks with Congress again
While engaged in conciliation, the ISF revealed its candidates for 8 Lok Sabha constituencies within the state, some of which included seats contested by CPM or Congress candidates.
After a long wait, the CPM is not getting any indication of ‘flexibility’ from the Indian Secular Front (ISF) on the seat compromise issue. Despite declaring support for ISF chairman Nausad Siddiqui’s candidature against Trinamool Congress All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the Diamond Harbor Lok Sabha seat, there is no clear response from him. In such a situation, CPM wants to start counting Lok Sabha votes without ISF. They are going to talk to the Congress about the seats reserved for the ISF in the changed scenario.
During the process of conciliation, the ISF announced candidates for 8 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Among them, there were few seats where CPM or Congress candidate. The ISF was given a message by the CPM to withdraw candidates from constituencies like Srirampur, Uluberia, Maldah South. CPM state committee member and lawyer-MP Bikash Bhattacharya has held discussions with ISF from time to time. It was trying to convince them that it would be difficult for the Left Front partners and the Congress to leave the Center and give more than three seats to the ISF. At the same time, it was said that CPM and Congress would jointly support Nausad in Diamond Harbour. But according to CPM sources, there was no ‘positive’ response. That is why Alimuddin Street wants to close its doors slowly for Nausads this time.