Mamata Banerjee times local polls to upset CPM's strategy

KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee timing for local elections has upset CPM’s poll strategy as most of its leaders would be away for the party’s meeting in Visakapatnam. Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections are scheduled for on April 18 and polls in 92 civic bodies for April 25 while CPM party congress is being held from April 13-20 in Visakapatnam.

Almost 190 CPM leaders, including state chief Surjya Kanta Mishra and his predecessor Biman Bose, would not be able to campaign for April 18 Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections due to clash of dates. All these leaders are leaving Kolkata on April 13.

"Mamata knew well that we will have our party congress at Visakhapatnam in April and has fixed up KMC poll date in the same month so that our top party leaders can’t campaign," said CPM central committee member and party MP Mohammad Salim.