It could be tough as '84, says Biman

KOLKATA: After Jyoti Basu, it was CPM polit bureau member Biman Bose���s turn to admit that the party would face a tough election this time. Mr Bose, at the same time, pointed out that CPM would fight the elections by taking all Left Front constituents into confidence.

Releasing the list of Left Front candidates for the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal on Tuesday, Mr Bose said: "A tough situation cropped up after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. But the people of West Bengal were with us that time. This time too, we are facing another tough situation."

The Left Front chairman, however, did not elaborate why the Left parties would face such a predicament. But it is certain that the CPM and its allies will face a tough electoral battle once the Trinamool Congress and the Congress forge an electoral alliance.

A few days back, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu had indicated that the Left might face a tough situation once there was any electoral adjustment between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress.

Mr Bose, however, made it clear that the party would set up committees in all 51,919 booths and 1,100 auxiliary booths where people would exercise their franchise. "Attempts are being made to involve all Front partners in setting up these booth committees," Mr Bose added.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress is trying to rope in a few film personalities for the elections. Film actress Shatabdi Roy has already agreed to fight the election on a Trinamool ticket. Trinamool���s sitting MLA, actor Tapas Pal is also likely to fight the Lok Sabha elections. The duo met party chief Mamata Banerjee at her south Kolkata residence on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

The SUCI, a Left party in West Bengal, is one of the constituents of the common forum floated by Mamata Banerjee, has taken strong exception to the Trinamool supremo���s move to strike a deal with the Congress without discussing the issue with them.

"We will soon take a final decision whether we will continue in Mamata���s platform in view of her recent move to hobnob with the Congress soon. We will meet either on March 9 or 10 to decide on the issue," SUCI leader Manik Mukherjee said on Tuesday.