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

Bishnupur, Mar 27 (UNI) With just three weeks left for the Assembly elections, 42 CPI(M) members have joined the All India Trinamool Congress under Bishnupur Constituency in West Bengal.

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 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 has reportedly joined TMC. Reacting to a question, Bankura District President of the Congress Shyam Mukherjee said, ''Our candidates have not joined AITC.'' ''We would fight the CPI(M) in Bankura in 5 out of 13 seats,'' he added.

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