With probability of a CPI(M)-Congress alliance getting delayed over the two parties’ refusal to sacrifice their claims on Raiganj and Murshidabad Lok Sabha constituencies, the Marxists have begun preparations to go it alone at the hustings, inside sources said.
The CPI(M) had proposed a “no mutual contest” formula for six seats where the two outfits have their sitting MPs. Currently Congress has its sitting MPs from Behrampore, Jangipur and Malda North and South while the CPI(M) has two MPs from Murshidabad and Raiganj, with the latter being a stronghold of late MP and Union Minister PR Dasmunshi.
According to inside sources the late Congress leader’s wife Deepa Dasmunshi — also a former Raiganj MP who lost the seat to CPI(M)’s Md Salim in 2014 by a paltry 2,500 votes has refused to sacrifice her claim on the seat.
Though the two parties have been working out on a “plan-B” being — whereby the CPI(M) may be asked to back Congress’ Dasmunshi for the lone Rajya Sabha seat getting vacated next year — the Left have started making preparations for an ekla chalo campaign, insiders said.
“The State committee has decided to begin it early. We have the names of our candidates ready. We have already given our proposal of a joint fight. Now it is upon the Congress to decide on the plan. If we fail to come to an understanding then we are ready for a four-cornered fight,” a CPI(M) State committee member said adding “the Left Front will do much better than what some people are thinking it will do.”
Meanwhile, Congress sources said party president Rahul Gandhi had on Wednesday sent Gaurav Gogoi to CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury for exploring other options to let the alliance survive. Gogoi is the Congress’ observer for Bengal. It was there that the Congress proposed the idea of leaving a Rajya Sabha seat for Dasmunshi. The CPI(M) has not given any confirmation from its end, sources said.