Kolkata, Sep 22: RSP candidate Bikash Chandra Mishra has withdrawn from the Rejinagar by-election after the Election Commission reportedly refused to allot the party its traditional ‘spade and shovel’ symbol and instead assigned the ‘bucket’ symbol.
RSP State Secretary Tapan Hor alleged that the decision was unfair and said the party would approach the court. He said the spade-and-shovel symbol has been associated with the party’s long political history and its workers and supporters.
The dispute comes amid differences within the Left Front over the Rejinagar seat. The CPM had announced its candidate for the constituency, while the RSP fielded Bikash Chandra Mishra separately after objecting to the seat-sharing decision.
Following the RSP’s withdrawal, the CPM is now the Left Front’s candidate in Rejinagar. However, the RSP’s decision has raised questions about whether its supporters will back the CPM candidate.
Tapan Hor said the party is consulting legal experts and is preparing to challenge the Election Commission’s decision in court.
