For the sake of unity, Bloc to go with CPM for panchayat elections

Express news service Posted: Mar 31, 2008 at 0126 hrs
Kolkata, March 30 The Forward Bloc formally announced on Sunday that it would fight the upcoming panchayat elections in the state as a part of the ruling Left Front.

Bloc General Secretary Ashok Ghosh announced the decision at the AIFB headquarters.

The party, which has backtracked from its “akla cholo” stance, cited “recent political developments” and the need for Left Front unity for its change in position.

Ghosh said: “We demanded that a committee for co-ordination be set up in the Left Front during panchayat elections. During our meeting with CPM leaders on March 21, we got an assurance that this would happen. Moreover, Left Front has to be united in order to take on both the BJP and the Congress who are growing in strength. Recent political developments also contributed to us taking this decision.”