Kolkata: TMC backs Independent, eyes Oppn vote to stop CPM nominee

The choice of CPI(M)’s Bhattacharya, who was a vocal voice against the chit fund and Narada scams, has left the TMC miffed, say sources.

“We proposed to Congress that they make Meera Kumar the fourth candidate. We would have supported her. But the Congress refused to do so,” a TMC source said. A senior Congress leader denied this. “We have always maintained that if the Left chooses a suitable candidate, we will support him or her.”

A Rajya Sabha candidate in West Bengal needs 49 first preference votes to get elected. The CPI(M) and Congress have 51 MLAs in all. Also, around 10 MLAs of the TMC are either not in touch with the party or have crossed over to the BJP, according to party sources. It is these 10 MLAs along with other BJP members, and two from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, that TMC is now trying to persuade.

Provided it garners enough opposition votes, and some Left and Congress MLAs remain absent, Bajaj has a chance of winning.