42 CPI(M) members join AITC before Assembly election in WB

Bishnupur, Mar 27 (UNI) About 42 CPI(M) members have joined the All India Trinamool Congress under Bishnupur Constituency in West Bengal for the coming Assembly elections.

State General Secretary of the AITC Subhasis Batabyal said here today that 32 CPI(M) supporters from Rahutkhanda, seven from Uliara and three from Shyamnagar have left the party and joined the TMC.

'' They were tortured by the CPI(M) which compelled them to leave the party,'' he claimed.

Mr Batabyal said these party members were dissatisfied with the CPI(M)'s decision as it did not give nomination to the standing MLA Jayanta Chowdhury.

However, Bankura District Secretary of CPI(M) Amiya Patra said, ''Our party has expelled the members who later joined AITC. Many such expelled members could be found in other parties as well.'' Few Congress supporters have reportedly joined the TMC. Reacting to a question, Bankura District President of the Congress Shyam Mukherjee said, ''We would fight the CPI(M) in Bankura in five out of 13 seats,'' he added.

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