KPP extends support to BJP

TT, Siliguri, March 21: The Kamtapur Progressive Party today said it would support the BJP in the Assembly polls and field candidates in five seats in north Bengal.

"The Darjeeling BJP MP had raised issues concerning the Rajbangshi community in Parliament. Only the BJP has supported our demands. Although we had sought an appointment with chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her recent campaign trail in north Bengal, we were denied an audience with her. Such attitude by the ruling party has left our workers disgruntled," KPP president Atul Roy told a news conference here today.

"Unlike those regional political forces and organisations which represent other communities, the KPP was never consulted by the Trinamul Congress. So, we have decided to support the BJP in the Assembly elections," he added.

Roy said the KPP would field candidates in Dabgram-Fulbari, Rajganj, Mainaguri and Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district and Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar. "Our candidates will contest on the BJP symbol," he said.

Jalpaiguri district BJP leaders, however, differed with the KPP's announcement of seats. "There is no doubt that the KPP will be our ally in the state polls. It had supported the BJP in the last Parliament elections. However, as far as the seats are concerned, we have left only the Rajganj seat (in Jalpaiguri district) for the KPP. We will field our candidates in the remaining four seats," Dipen Pramanik, the Jalpaiguri district BJP president, said.