Cong, left to have tie-up for Bengal civic polls

WBPCC president Somen Mitra said the Congress will have a seat-sharing arrangement with the Left Front for the West Bengal civic polls but will not form an alliance with it. Going by the formula, the Congress and the Left Front constituents will field their candidates from their respective strongholds, Mitra said. Reacting to Mitra's remarks, CPI(M) legislature party leader Sujan Chakraborty said, "We have always called for putting up a joint fight to defeat both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal." Mitra said that State Election Commission (SEC) should ensure that civic elections are held in a free and fair manner. He said, the Congress is in favour of using electronic voting machines and not ballot papers. He said that they have no problems about the timing of the polls. However, the dates should be fixed with due consideration about the schedule of different board exams, he said. We have conveyed our stand to the SEC, he said.