Forward Bloc leader criticises CPI(M)

Agartala, Feb 10 (UNI) West Bengal Agriculture Minister and senior Forward Bloc (FB) leader Naren Dey today criticised the CPI(M) for its ''high-handed attitude'' but assured that the FB was still a part of the Left Front (LF) and believed in its ideology.

Mr Dey told mediapersons here that the CPI(M), the LF's major partner, had not fulfilled the minimum demands of the FB, which forced the party to fight the elections in Tripura alone.

''The FB will highlight the drawbacks of the CPI(M)-led Left Front government in Tripura even though we are still a part of the LF,'' he said, adding that his party would not go for any electoral alliance with the Left parties in the Assembly elections.

''We are fighting the elections alone to show our political ability to the LF but this does not mean that we have separated from the LF. We hope that the situation will change after the elections and the Front partners will work together as per the mandate of the party,'' he asserted.

Mr Dey further informed that the FB would participate in all programmes of the LF except the elections, as it was not under the command of a single party.

''At the time of the LF's formation, it was decided that the all partners of the Front would enjoy the same status and dignity but this has not been adhered to,'' he claimed.

''The FB wanted three seats from the LF for the February 23 Tripura Assembly elections but the CPI(M) was adamant on its previous decision of allotting only one seat. Therefore, the FB finally had to come out of the LF,'' he stated.

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