CPM and the Left Front had earlier set April 4 as the date for finalising names of 2,500 odd candidates for the 82 civic body elections, including Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Salt Lake municipal body. On the other hand, with preliminary reports from districts already estimating another debacle in the upcoming civic polls, the CPM asked its ranks to share more seats with the allies. The seat- sharing among the Left Front allies was blocked due to disagreement among the CPM, RSP and Forward Bloc. The Forward Bloc and the RSP have demanded more seats in the civic polls than they had contested in 2005.

Following discontent among the allies, the CPM state committee sent a note to all district committees, where it admitted that while in the 2005 municipal elections, among the 82 municipalities, the Left Front won 54, this time, the battle would be very difficult because of the changing political scenario of the state.

Sources in the CPM said the party has an assessment about the prospect of the civic polls. Reports from several districts indicate that it would be very hard for the party to reclaim more than 20 civic bodies in the state.

“For this reason, we decided to field young and energetic people as our candidates. But it looks like we will have to abandon the idea,” said a senior CPM leader. “We have to contest the election united, any difference at the grassroots level will cause severe harm this time,” he said.