CPI(ML)L rules out alliances with Cong, BJP, TMC in Panchayat

Kolkata, Apr 11 (UNI) The CPI(M) Liberation today decided to contest in about 3,000 seats in mid-May three-tier Panchayat elections in West Bengal.

'' We hope to do better in the polls this year as we will contest independently in the rural bodies' elections'', CPI(M-L) West Bengal unit secretary Kartick Pal told in a press conference.

'' Our doors are also open for alliances with like minded democratic forces, who are fighting the Left Front government's anti-people, anti-farmers and mass killing politics,'' Pal said.

CPI(M-L) Liberation is expected to fill candidates in 2500/3000 seats of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samity and Zilla Parishad.

Barring the Congress, BJP and Trinamool Congress, the CPI(M-L) was ready to forge alliance with the other Left and Democratic forces opposing the ruling parites.

Pal further said the election manifesto would be release on April 20 or 21.

The three-phase election in 17 out of 18 districts will be held on May 11, 14 and 18.

While East and West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia and Burdwan districts would go to polls on May 11; Nadia, North and South 24-Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly on May 14 and Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpurs, Malda, Murshidabad and Birbhum on May 18.

The government did not recommend for polls in three hill sub-divisions under Darjeeling district - Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong - while election in Siliguri sub-division was not due.

While Gram Panchayat has 35,688 consituencies comprising 41,513 seats, Panchachat Samity 8798 seats and Zilla Parishad 748 seats under three-tier system.

UNI AKM PC PY AS2038