Friday, December 2 2005 13:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: The debacle of the RJD and LJP-led alliances in Bihar and installation of the Nitish Kumar government has brought opposition parties in West Bengal together on the need for strong measures by the Election Commission in the same way the Bihar assembly election was conducted.

Opposition Trinamool Congress and Congress agree the EC must take tough measures in next year's assembly polls to ensure that ruling CPI (M)'s alleged muscle power and manipulation of the government machinery are reigned in.

NDA ally Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has welcomed the handling of Bihar assembly poll by Election Commission Observer K J Rao.

WBPCC working president Pradip Bhattacharjee has also made it clear that the party's equation with CPI (M) for the survival of the UPA government at the Centre will not in any way prevent it from urging the EC to hold next year's election with the toughest of measures.

"We will press the EC to strictly monitor the election so that CPI (M) cannot intimidate voters or delete names of voters who are disenchanted with the 28 years of Marxist misrule," Bhattacharjee told PTI.

He claimed the Congress High Command had given clear instructions to the state unit not to be influenced by the party's relationship with the Left at the Centre since the compulsions of national politics and the ground realities in West Bengal were different.