All India Secular Front (AISF) has given a deadline to the CPI(M)-led Left Front in West Bengal to present its seat-sharing proposals for the upcoming Assembly elections. If the Left Front fails to do so by Sunday, AISF plans to announce its candidates gradually for various Assembly constituencies. In the previous 2021 polls, Left Front, Congress, and AISF collaborated under the ‘Sanjukta Morcha’ banner. However, AISF opted out in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections while Congress and Left Front continued their seat-sharing pact.
The absence of Congress from the current arrangement means that the Left Front is expected to finalize the seat-sharing proposals promptly. AISF anticipates a lower demand for seats compared to what Congress would have sought. Internal differences among the Left Front allies seem to be causing delays in reaching a consensus on the seat-sharing formula. An unnamed AISF source emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the need for swift decisions.
Acknowledging the disagreements within the Left Front allies regarding seat allocation, a CPI(M) central committee member mentioned that other allies like CPI, All India Forward Bloc, and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) are also seeking additional seats. Despite the differing demands, there is optimism that a mutually agreeable seat-sharing arrangement will eventually be reached within the Left Front and with AISF.
