The Left Front partners have welcomed the decision of the CPM central committee that the state government will acquire land only after obtaining the consent of the locals.

The RSP and the Forward Bloc said on Friday that the change in the big brother’s attitude will have a positive impact on the Left Front unity.

“We had earlier demanded that the land should be acquired only when farmers agree to it,” said RSP leader and state PWD minister Kshiti Goswami, who has consistently opposed the state government’s plans to acquire land for setting up industries.

Commerce and Industries Minister Nirupam Sen said that land acquisition for any industrial project will be discussed with the local farmers. According to sources in the CPM, after the debacle in the panchayat polls, the party is now trying to win over the confidence of the Front partners.

“We have been saying this since the violence erupted in Nandigram. The farmers should be consulted before setting up industry on their land. Now the industry minister is finally talking about farmers’ consent. We welcome his gesture,” said Goswami.

Other leaders like CPI’s Manjukumar Majumdar and Forward Bloc’s Hafiz Alam Sairani also appreciated the central committee’s decision.

Reacting to the CPM’s move, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said it was too late for the Left Front government to talk about the consent.