The fledgling Left Democratic Manch is planning to fight the upcoming panchayat elections in Assam as a united front.
Altogether 11 political parties came under one umbrella and formed the democratic manch. The group comprises CPI (M), CPI, CPI (ML), Janata Dal (Secular), Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party, AAP, Asom Sangrami Mancha, Liberal Democratic Party, All India Forward Bloc and RCPI.
The 11 opposition parties decided to fight jointly the panchayat election in Assam assumes significance as all the three partners of the ruling coalition – the BJP, AGP and the BPF have announced to fight the election independently.
Though the schedule for the panchayat election has not been announced, there is a possibility that it may be held in the last part of February.
The front was founded in July 2016 to oppose the auction of twelve oil fields of Assam. The government had announced the privatisation of 68 oil fields of India.
The members of the left democratic parties are likely to go for seat-sharing. But the question of seat adjustment with Congress and the AIUDF is not likely to happen, Deben Bhattacharyya, convener of the manch said. All the 11 parties are likely to fight the panchayat election with a common agenda.
The front also raises its voice against several other issues like the NRC issue against illegal immigration of Bangladeshis, flood problem, etc.
The LDM also demands that March 24, 1971 should be the cut-off date for inclusion of names in the updated NRC. It also seeks to stop eviction drives unless rehabilitation plans for the affected families are made and wants no evictions on religious grounds.
The political parties also plan to intensify movement demanding withdrawal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in view of the public outcry against granting citizenship to Hindu immigrants.
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