Kolkata: Opposition parties have begun shortlisting candidates for Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) polls, expected in the last week of Nov, amid buzz about a possible grand alliance against BJP.The attack on Left-run book stalls during Durga Puja and the stampede at Chorbagan Sarbojonin that claimed 19 lives have united the Opposition in attacking the ruling dispensation over its handling of the first puja since the change of govt.BJP has invited applications from candidates. Bengal Congress has set an Oct 28 deadline for CVs at Pradesh Congress headquarters or organisational district offices.Mamata Trinamool Congress has stepped up ward- and booth-level meetings. A senior functionary said nearly 80% of councillors from the last KMC board remain with the party.CPM will hold strategy and candidate-selection meetings on Oct 29 and 30 and is likely to announce candidates in the first week of Nov.KMC polls are likely in the last week of Nov. Notification could be issued by the end of Oct. CM Suvendu Adhikari had promised a new board at KMC by Dec 7. Parties will need to field more candidates as the ward count has risen from 144 to 209.Mamata TMC president Baiswanor Chattopadhyay said the party had no dearth of candidates. “We will do well if elections are free and fair. But we apprehend BJP will use state machinery to arrest our candidates once names are announced,” he said. He said Mamata Banerjee would make the final selection.CPM Kolkata district secretary Kallol Majumdar said the Oct 29-30 meetings would discuss candidates and poll strategy. Pradesh Congress functionary Ashutosh Chatterjee said the party would shortlist candidates after the Oct 28 deadline.Several Opposition leaders claimed BJP’s vote share could fall from assembly election levels if polls were free and fair.
