Left Front Announces Candidates for Kolkata Civic Polls

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI-M-led Left Front on Sunday announced its first set of candidates for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) polls. At least 71 women candidates are set to be in fray out of the 144 wards.

"The first set of names announced for the 125 wards has 67 women candidates. For the rest of the 19 wards, we will announce the list in a day or two. In all, 71 woman candidates will be in fray," said Left Front Chairman Biman Bose.

The list includes 23 candidates from religious minorities.

"Besides, when we announced the full list, there will be 21 candidates representing linguistic minorities."

He also accused the Trinamool Congress-run KMC of being "neck deep in corruption" and functioning in an arbitrary way without adhering to democratic norms.

"The KMC is now run by an evil force under which all rules and democratic norms have gone to the drain. The least is said about its corruption the better," said Mr Bose.

The veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist leader said the Left Front was targeting the April 18 polls as the bird's eye and called upon the party activists to start campaigning with a "come what may attitude".

The state government has said the polls to the Kolkata civic body will be held on April 18 and those to 92 other municipalities in various parts of the state on April 25.

The notification for the KMC elections will be issued on March 18. The notification for the polls to the 92 other civic bodies will be issued on March 25.