Yechury files nomination for RS polls in West Bengal

Kolkata, Jul 8: CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury today (Jul 8) filed nomination as the lone Left Front candidate for Rajya Sabha elections in West Bengal.

After the drubbing in the West Bengal Assembly polls in May, the CPI(M) is sure of securing just one of the six Rajya Sabha seats for which elections will be held on July 22.

The Rajya Sabha terms of four Left Front leaders -- Yechury, Brinda Karat, Mohammad Amin of CPI(M) and Abani Roy of RSP, besides Trinamool Congress'' Swapan Sadhan Bose -- will end on August 18.

The remaining sixth seat has been lying vacant since the death of Independent Arjun Sengupta, who was backed by the Left and Congress in September 2010.

Going by legislative arithmetic, ruling Trinamool Congress-Congress combine can win five seats and Left parties one.

In the 294-seat Assembly CPI(M) has just 39 members, down from 176 in the 2006 Assembly elections and three short of the required 42 votes. It will therefore have to depend on Left Front partners to win the seat.

PTI