AGARTALA, April 20 (TIWN): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar left for Kolkata is campaigning for the CPI-M in the West Bengal assembly elections. According to sources in a three day visit he will address five public meetings in two districts only, the North 24 Parganas and Hooghly.

One of the most well known faces of the Marxist party in the country Sarkar has already campaigned in Assam where his party hardly has any prospect but was avoiding their strong hold West Bengal where three phases of election has already completed. His absence in the Bengal campaigning had evoked lots of confusions as it was seen as deliberate step to avoid a political embarrassment as the party is fighting there in alliance with Congress which is his main rival in Tripura.

It was believed by some quarter that Sarkar had opposed the alliance with the Congress and that’s why he was avoiding visiting Bengal despite repeated invitations. Absence of the party’s former general secretary Prakash Karat in Bengal campaign has further aggravated the speculation about reservations on alliance with Congress in the party is still persist.

However, a senior party leader ruled out any such difference and said Sarkar’s Bengal visit will put into rest all such wild speculations. Party sources further said that it has also been finalised that Sarkar will campaign in Tamilnadu and Kerala too, date for which is yet to be finalised. He is the only CPI(M)leader to campaign in four out of five states where elections are being held. All other party leaders will campaign in two of three states.