CPIML Liberation Demands Greater Share in Bihars Rajya Sabha Seats

CPIML Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya asserts partys legitimate claim on Rajya Sabha seat in Bihar, seeks greater share due to JDUs exit from Mahagathbandhan.

Patna, February 14: CPIML Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya asserted his party's legitimate claim on a Rajya Sabha seat in Bihar, which it relinquished for the larger interests of the Mahagathbandhan. While the party had initially demanded five out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Bhattacharya clarified that they will now seek a greater share due to the exit of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JDU from the grand alliance.

Sacrifices Made for the Alliance

Addressing reporters in Patna, Bhattacharya highlighted the CPIML Liberation's 12 MLAs in the Bihar assembly and the sacrifices made for the alliance. He mentioned their decision to defer their claim on a Rajya Sabha seat upon the intervention of the Congress party's top leadership, prioritizing the interests of the grand alliance.

Support for Mahagathbandhan Candidates

Bhattacharya affirmed the party's support for all three Mahagathbandhan candidates in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls from Bihar. He dismissed speculations about his own candidacy for a Rajya Sabha berth, terming such news as baseless.

Seeking Greater Share in Lok Sabha Polls

Regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Bhattacharya expressed the CPIML Liberation's intention to seek a greater share following the JDU's exit from the grand alliance. He stated that discussions with opposition bloc leaders, including the RJD, would take place in the coming days.

Manoj Manzil's Conviction

Bhattacharya condemned the life imprisonment sentence imposed on CPIML Liberation MLA Manoz Manzil by a court in Bhojpur district. He viewed the conviction as part of an escalating nationwide assault on democracy and the political opposition, particularly in the context of the BJP-JDU reunion in Bihar.

The party organized protests across the state on Wednesday and plans further demonstrations on February 16. Bhattacharya emphasized that Manzil, the MLA from Agiaon SC in Bhojpur, and 22 other comrades were convicted in a politically motivated case filed in 2015, during the eve of the assembly elections. Despite contesting the polls from jail, Manzil garnered over 30,000 votes.

The CPIML Liberation's assertion of its claim on a Rajya Sabha seat in Bihar reflects the party's commitment to the Mahagathbandhan while seeking a greater share in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The conviction of MLA Manoz Manzil highlights the party's concerns about the erosion of democracy and the challenges faced by the political opposition in the current political climate.