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Left Front begins election campaign

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The Left Front in West Bengal kick-started its campaign here on Sunday for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections with a mammoth rally, its leadership living up to the “challenge”— as it had put it — of drawing one of the largest congregations in the city in recent times.

While the leaders present urged for greater unity within the Left parties ahead of the polls, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee asserted that just as there was no alternative to the Left Front in the State there was need for an alternative government at the Centre.

He called for a non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre that will serve the interests of the common people, fight communalism and pursue an independent foreign policy. It is for the people to determine what shape the alternative government is to take.

“The Left Front in this State is not the NDA [National Democratic Alliance]; neither is it the UPA [United Progressive Alliance] ... It has not grown in a single day but through sweat, blood and struggle .It is a historical necessity, one that means development for all and the unity of the working people of the State,” Mr. Bhattacharjee said.

Jyoti Basu’s message

In a message to the assembly, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu who was not present on the advise of his doctors, slammed the Opposition for obstructing development in the State — a view echoed by leaders of the different constituents of the Left Front at the rally. “Those who are opposing progress have no policy, no programme,” Mr. Basu said.

Biman Bose, Chairman of the Left Front Committee, scotched rumours “by a section of people engaged in a misinformation campaign” that there has been a sudden deterioration in Mr. Basu’s health.

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