Kolkata, Feb 6 (NationPress) Despite the Congress deciding to cut ties with the CPI(M)-led Left Front in West Bengal and contest the upcoming Assembly elections independently across all 294 constituencies, the Left Front will maintain its collaboration with the All India Secular Front (AISF) this year as well.

CPI(M) state secretary in West Bengal and Politburo member Md Salim confirmed to reporters on Friday that the collaboration with AISF is ongoing and will persist in the Assembly polls this year.

“Previously, the AISF leadership reached out to us, indicating their interest in a partnership. We have already held two rounds of meetings on this topic. Currently, discussions are underway regarding the seat-sharing arrangement,” Salim stated.

He, however, refrained from commenting on the likelihood of a similar partnership with the Janata Unnayan Party, a new political entity launched by suspended Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir, even amidst reports of a recent clandestine meeting between the two.

“Ever since Kabir was suspended from the Trinamool Congress, he has been in contact with us, expressing his desire for an electoral partnership with the Left Front. However, discussions may not necessarily lead to a collaboration. Initially, the matter will be deliberated within the CPI(M) and subsequently with other allies in the Left Front. The partnership will be finalized based on the outcomes of these discussions,” Salim added.

Salim’s remarks came a day after the Congress announced its resolution to independently contest all 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal for the upcoming polls, without any seat-sharing agreement with either the CPI(M)-led Left Front or the Trinamool Congress.

In response to the Congress’ decision, Salim remarked that it was apparent from the outset that any arrangement between the Left Front and Congress for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls would be unfeasible.

“This became clear as the new state Congress president in West Bengal has never voiced any criticism against the Trinamool Congress,” he noted.

Political analysts also believe that a seamless seat-sharing arrangement for the 2026 Assembly polls has been unattainable from the very beginning.

The two key figures responsible for the seat-sharing arrangement between the Left Front and Congress since 2016 were former CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and the former state Congress president in West Bengal, and five-time Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

“Following Yechury's passing, there is no national leader within CPI(M)’s central leadership who can advocate for a partnership with Congress. The same holds true for Congress after Chowdhury’s exclusion from the party’s key decision-making sphere,” an observer from the city commented.