RSP drops support to Cong-led municipality

Cracks appeared in West Bengal's ruling Left Front as the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), one of its constituents, on Tuesday withdrew its support to the Congress-led Siliguri Corporation.

RSP leaders announced their decision after a meeting with the CPI(M). The decision to withdraw support won't impact the fate of the Congress-led board at Siliguri, as the RSP has only one councillor in the corporation.

The Congress recently formed the board of Siliguri Corporation with the help of the Left parties after its electoral partner Trinamool Congress (TC) refused to yield the post of mayor to it.

Of the 47-member Siliguri Corporation, the Congress has 15 councillors, the TC 15 and the Left Front 17.

This is the first time when a Left party openly went against the collective decision of the Front.

RSP leaders Manoj Bhattacharjee and Khsiti Goswami also expressed reservations against invoking the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act at a time when the state government has launched a drive against Naxalites in Lalgarh and other areas. The CPI(M) and its other partners did not offer any comment on this development.