Independent asks Left to write to him for support

Arabinda Ghosh in Siliguri.
Picture by Kundan Yolmo

TT, Siliguri, April 29: Arabinda Ghosh, an independent candidate who won from ward 15 of Siliguri Municipal Corporation, today said the Left Front should write to him, seeking his support to have a majority at the civic board.

The SMC has 47 wards. The Left has secured 23 seats and need Ghosh’s support to form and run the civic board. 

The independent candidate, who held a news conference at his house today, said: “It is true that the Left needs my support to prove its majority in SMC. Some senior leaders have already contacted me and have sought my support. I have, in reply, told them that I will discuss the issue with those who had stood by my side and  worked with me at the polls. Accordingly, I spoke to them today and it has been decided that the Left Front will have to give me in writing that they need my support.”

“Once they send me the letter, I will reply back, mentioning some of the conditions to which they must assent. I would prefer not to divulge these conditions now. However, I would like to say that whoever will commit to form a transparent and stable civic board, I will think on their proposal,” he added. 

The independent candidate, who had left Trinamul in September last year, said there was no question of him supporting Mamata Banerjee’s party. “I have left the party because of disagreements over certain policies and on ethical grounds. There is no question of standing in support of the party again,” he said. 

 Senior Left Front leaders, who held a victory procession here today to celebrate their win at the civic polls, said they would soon send a written proposal to Ghosh. The rally, which started from Baghajatin Park, moved through Kutcheri Road and Hill Cart Road and ended in front of the district CPM office. Over 5,000 workers and supporters took part in the procession. Most of the winning candidates and district leaders were also present. 

“We will formally write to Ghosh, asking for his support so that we can form the board. So far as the demands of transparent and stable civic board are concerned, it is only the Left, which can form such a board. Both these issues were also mentioned in our election manifesto,” said former minister and CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya, before the commencement of the procession. 

“We will give him due respect and importance to his demands, aspirations and expect him to support us,” he added.