CALCUTTA, 5 April 2004 — The Left Front has accused the three opposition parties in West Bengal — Congress, Trinamul Congress and BJP — of forging an informal alliance to defeat its candidates in the upcoming national parliamentary elections.

Yesterday, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Secretary Anil Biswas urged its youth wings, particularly Students’ Federation of India, to campaign aggressively against the “unholy nexus”.

At stake are 42 Lok Sabha seats in Left Front-ruled West Bengal, which will go to the polls on May 10. In 1999, Trinamul Congress bagged eight seats, Congress three and the BJP two. The CPI(M)-led Left Front won 29 seats.

Biswas branded Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee the architect of the informal anti-Left Front alliance. Mukherjee retorted it was impossible for Congress to enter into any partnership with the communal BJP, or its “stooge”, the Trinamul Congress.

Biswas identified Nabadwip, Contai and Krishanagar as the three constituencies where Trinamul Congress, Congress and BJP have pooled their resources to defeat Left Front candidates.

Despite denials by the trio, analysts say there is ample substance in the Left Front’s allegations that the opposition has teamed up.

Biswas urged SFI volunteers to fan out across West Bengal to inform voters about the pact.

He said the SFI should pull out all stops to expose the opposition parties and ensure the victory of Left Front candidates.

Biswas justified roping in students on the grounds that “never before has India faced such a big threat from communal forces like the BJP and Trinamul Congress.”

Both opposition parties have sharply criticized CPI(M)’s move to involve students in election politics. Trinamul Congress boss Mamata Banerjee said that students should concentrate on their syllabus instead of electioneering.