LF seat sharing talks for rural polls to be over by March 23

Ahead of the coming panchayat elections in West Bengal, the Opposition Left Front today held its crucial meeting to negotiate on seat adjustment with its allies in all 17 districts.

"There should not be disunity at any level. We have asked all LF district units to sink misunderstandings among allies and cobble up a total unity to give a fight to the Trinamool Congress," Left Front Chairman Biman Bose said here.

Briefing the meeting, Bose said the negotiation on seat adjustment was in its last phase and will be completed by March 23, while all district LF committees must submit their reports to the state unit by March 26, ahead of the next LF meeting on March 28. "We have asked all district LF units to be flexible and expedite the process of seat adjustment within schedule, to consolidate the Front's strength," Bose said.

"Discussions held with all 17 district LF units regarding negotiation on seat adjustment are in three stages - gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and zilla parishad. While the process is complete in Bankura district, it is nearing completion in 11 districts. The process is in full swing in Jalpaiguri, Howrah, North 24-Parganas, East Midnapore and Purulia districts," Bose said.

To a question, Bose said that the LF did not believe in speculation about the date of election, but the poll should be free, fair and peaceful.

"For this, each and every booth has to be secured and the state government and the state election commission should ensure it," the LF chairman said.

The LF Chairman, however, said he will not comment on the dispute over number of phases of election and the demand of central force to ensure law and order during the polls.

"This was not in the agenda of today's meeting. But definitely we want free, fair and peaceful polls," he said.