ISF chairman Nausad Siddique said the agreement was reached after multiple rounds of discussions and exchange of letters with Left leaders at Alimuddin Street, the CPI-M headquarters.
Indian Secular Front
Ending days of speculation, the Indian Secular Front (ISF) on Friday announced that it will contest 29 Assembly seats in West Bengal following a seat-sharing agreement with the Left Front, while also indicating it may field candidates in four additional constituencies where the Left has already declared nominees.
ISF chairman Nausad Siddique said the agreement was reached after multiple rounds of discussions and exchange of letters with Left leaders at Alimuddin Street, the CPI-M headquarters. “We have finally been able to arrive at a consensus with the Left on several seats. To defeat both the BJP and the Trinamul Congress, we have made the maximum possible sacrifices,” he said while announcing the constituencies.
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According to ISF leaders, the party will contest in two seats in Malda ~ Mothabari and Sujapur ~ and three in Murshidabad: Samserganj, Raghunathganj and Hariharpara. In Nadia, it will field a candidate in Nakashipara.
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In North 24-Parganas, the ISF will contest from Ashoknagar, Amdanga, Madhyamgram, Deganga, Haroa, Minakhan, Basirhat North and Baduria. In South 24-Parganas, the party has chosen Basanti, Kulpi, Mandirbazar, Canning West, Canning East, Magrahat West and Bhangar. The party will also contest Uluberia East and Jagatballavpur in Howrah; Haripal and Khanakul in Hooghly; Mahishadal in East Midnapore; Salboni in West Midnapore; Barabani in West Burdwan; and Bolpur in Birbhum ~ taking the total to 29 seats agreed upon with the Left. ISF working president Samsur Ali Mallick, who read out the list, said candidates would contest under the party’s “envelope” symbol. However, the announcement also triggered fresh uncertainty over four constituencies — Panskura West, Nandigram, Bhagabangola and Murarai ~ where the Left Front has already declared candidates.
The ISF made it clear that it intends to field nominees in these seats as well and has urged the Left to reconsider. “We have informed the Left leadership through letters and emails that we are keen to contest these four seats. We request them not to field candidates there,” Mr Siddique said. The development is particularly significant in Nandigram, where a multi-cornered contest is shaping up. Incumbent MLA Suvendu Adhikari is set to contest on a BJP ticket, while the All India Trinamul Congress has fielded Pabitra Kar.
The Left Front has already nominated CPI candidate Shanti Giri from the seat. Sources indicated that Mr Siddique himself is likely to contest from Bhangar, setting up a direct contest with Trinamul leader Saokat Molla. On the timing of the candidate list, Mr Siddique said the formal announcement would be made after Eid. “People are in a festive mood now. We will release the full list immediately after Eid celebrations,” he added.
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