WB LF undecided on contesting RS polls, CPM pitches for Ind

The meeting of West Bengal Left Front to decide on whether to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls remained inconclusive, even as the CPI(M) pitched for nominating an independent candidate.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front today met to decide on whether to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections as it doesn't have the numbers to send a candidate in its own to the Upper House of the Parliament and needs Congress support.
"The meeting was inconclusive. But, we have floated the idea of nominating an independent candidate if Congress agrees to support the move," a senior LF leader told PTI.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of the CPI((M) Central Committee rejecting the West Bengal state committee's proposal to nominate party general secretary Sitaram Yechury for a third term in the Rajya Sabha.

The Central Committee was also of the opinion that an acceptable independent candidate by the opposition parties in West Bengal may be fielded, failing which the West Bengal Left Front will consider about contesting the RS polls.
The polls will be held for six RS seats from the state on August 8. Out of the six, four are held by TMC, one by the CPI(M) and one by the Congress.

The TMC, with its increased strength after the 2016 Assembly polls, is in a position to send five MPs to the Rajya Sabha. The Congress, the second largest party, will be able to elect one MP on its own strength.

With the present strength of the Assembly and the number of Rajya Sabha seats going to polls, a candidate will need about 43 votes to get elected to the RS.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front has 32 MLAs in the Assembly. The Congress has 44 MLAs and the ruling TMC has 211 members.
Although eight Congress MLAs and one Left MLA have switched over to the TMC, they are yet to resign from their parent parties.
Only Manas Bhunia, a Congress MLA, has resigned to contest the Rajya Sabha polls as a TMC candidate. He had joined TMC in September last year.