Left parties to fight for 62 wards, stress on ‘young’ student leaders

Seven Left parties released the names of 62 candidates, who would contest the municipal polls on April 23.

The maximum number of candidates were fielded by the CPI(M) – 16 and AIFB - 16, followed by CPI – 14, CPI (ML) – 13, SUCI – 2 and CGPI – 1. Sources said the Left planned to field 67 candidates but some withdrew their names.

The list was released at a press conference addressed by leaders of the seven parties.

There are 21 women candidates and six Muslim candidates in the list. The list includes young student leaders from All India Students Federation and Democratic Youth Federation of India, professors and taxi drivers among others.

“Unlike the last assembly election in which the Left campaigned for AAP candidates in constituencies where there were no Left candidates, this time Left cadres would be deployed only in 62 wards,” said Dinesh Varshney, a professor and CPI leader.

Party sources said in some wards where student leaders have been placed, senior leaders of the party have left the task of campaigning to the students.

“We have fielded a student leader of AISF. She is 22 years old. Her campaigners and supports are mostly school and college students. We don’t give them lunch or money. We offer them just tea and water,” said a senior leader.

Leaders said this time stress has been laid on young dynamic leaders under 50 years of age.

“Out of the 16 candidates we named, only one candidate is about 50 years old. The average age of CPI(M) candidates is 30-35 years,” said KM Tiwary state secretary of CPI(M).

The leaders lashed out at the Congress and the BJP saying that by giving tickets to ‘all new faces’ the BJP has accepted the fact that all its sitting councillors are corrupt and discredited. Same is the case with the Congress and others where the ‘old’ have taken recourse to an open revolt, they said.