A three-member delegation of the party, comprising Congress Legislature Party leader Manas Bhuniya, former mayor Subrata Mukherjee, and senior leader Pradip Bhattacharya, met the state Election Commissioner, Ashoke Gupta and put forth the party’s demand.

“Since many candidates will have problems if there is a bandh on April 21, we have requested the State Election Commissioner to extend the date and he has assured us that he will consider it,” Bhuniya said after meeting with Gupta.

He said that they had also taken up the issue of the alleged CPM workers perpetrating violence against Congressmen.

“So far four Congressmen had died in the violence unleashed by the CPM and we have requested Gupta to intervene so that our lives are spared,” Bhuniya added.

Meanwhile, the BJP expressed unhappiness over non-formation of an alliance against the ruling CPM.