Kanhaiya Kumar likely to campaign for CPI (M) in Assam before polls: Sources

GUWAHATI: Firebrand leader Kanhaiya Kumar is likely to campaign in Assam for the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)) ahead of the Assembly polls in Assam, highly-placed sources informed Inside Northeast.

 

It needs mention here that the CPI (M) has entered into an alliance with the Congress to contest the elections and discussions are currently underway for 'seat sharing'. The 'grand alliance' has claimed that it is well placed to win at least 100 out of the 126 Seats in the Assam Assembly.

 

The Congress will join hands with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and the Anchalik Gana Morcha fronted by Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan.

 

"As one of the m,ost recognizable faces of the CPI (M) across India, it is quite possible that Kanhaiya will contest the polls in Assam. However, his visit has not been confirmed yet. We will go public with the announcement as soon as there is a confirmation on his part," said a senior Congress leader, under the condition of anonymity.

 

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Kanhaiya, who currently serves as the National Executive Council member of Communist Party of India, had contested the polls in his home Constituency of Begusarai (Bihar) in 2017, but was defeated handily by Union Minister Giriraj Singh.

 

In September 2015, Kumar became president of the JNU students' union, representing the AISF.

 

He lost the election, polling a total of 269,976 votes and 22.03% of vote share. He secured a distant second position after losing to Giriraj Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party by 422,217 votes.