Congress-CPI(M) takes out joint rally in Bhatpara

In a significant political development, the CPI(M) and the Congress took out a joint peace rally in touble torn Bhatpara area of West Bengal on Friday.

Senior CPI(M) and Left leaders like CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra, Forward Bloc state secretary Naren Chatterjee along with state Congress president Somen Mitra participated in the joint rally.

Bhatpara has been witnessing unrest and violence between the ruling TMC and BJP which won the seat since the result of the Lok Sabha elections in June.

"We all are here to appeal for restoration of peace and stability in the area. Bhatpara is an example of how the political fight between TMC and BJP can turn a peaceful area into a battlefield. Both TMC and BJP practise communal politics. Only secular forces like Congress and CPI(M) can bring back peace," Mitra said.

The CPI(M) and the Congress had failed to clinch an alliance before the Lok Sabha polls as both the parties failed to agree on the seat sharing deal.

A TMC citadel for long, Bhatpara has been witnessing frequent post-poll violence between the BJP and ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) which claimed at least two lives.

The fight had intensified ever since Arjun Singh crossed over from TMC to the BJP and won the Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat, under which Bhatpara and Kankinara fall.

In the by-election to the Bhatpara assembly seat that was held along with the Lok Sabha elections, Arjun Singh's son, Pawan Singh, defeated TMC candidate and former state minister Madan Mitra.