Agartala, Nov 4: The Opposition CPI(M)-led Left Front in Tripura on Wednesday kept the possibility of an electoral understanding with the Congress alive for the November 27 urban local body elections, saying it was willing to make further adjustments, including withdrawing candidates wherever if required, to prevent a division of anti-BJP votes.
Left Front coordination committee chairman and senior CPI(M) leader Manik Dey rejected Congress allegations that the Left had announced its candidates without prior consultations and subsequently approached the party for an alliance.
“There have been several rounds of discussions. It is not correct to say that there were no talks,” Dey told reporters on the sidelines of a Left Front protest in Agartala.
His remarks came hours after senior Congress leaders, including former minister Sudip Roy Barman and Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha, criticised the CPI(M) for allegedly adopting a big-brother attitude and unilaterally announcing its candidates before seeking an electoral understanding.
Dey said the Left Front had initially filed nomination papers for 29-30 seats while keeping other constituencies open for negotiations. He claimed that the Front had shown flexibility in three areas where discussions had taken place and was still awaiting a response from the Congress on the remaining seats.
Referring to Ambassa and Kumarghat, he said the Congress had sought four seats and the Left Front had agreed to accommodate the demand. Discussions in Teliamura had also made some progress, he added.
“Even after submitting nominations, if the Congress wants to sit across the table, we have no objection. If necessary, we are ready to make adjustments, including withdrawing candidates wherever possible,” Dey said.
He accused the Congress of delaying the process without arriving at a clear understanding, but maintained that negotiations should not be abandoned.
Appealing to all democratic and secular forces to unite against the BJP, Dey said preventing a division of votes was essential to challenge the ruling party in the civic elections.
The elections to 21 urban local bodies in Tripura are scheduled for November 27, with the nomination process underway.
