Tamluk, March 29: In ward 7 of Tamralipta municipality, it's Debika Maity versus every other party.

The CPM, BJP and the Congress in Tamluk have teamed up against the Trinamul nominee and sitting councillor by backing an Independent candidate in the civic elections next month. The Opposition parties accused Maity of doing little for the East Midnapore town in the last five years as the municipal chairperson.

Leaders of the rival parties said they decided to back Independent candidate Alok Santra after a meeting last week, when the members were learnt to have said it would be prudent to "consolidate" the Opposition votes than fielding separate nominees.

Sources described Maity as a "strong candidate". She is said to have the backing of Sisir Adhikari and Subhendu Adhikari, who call the shots in the area.

The rival parties alleged that Maity had under-performed as the civic body chief.

"She has not done anything for the past five tears. All of us want her to lose. So, we have teamed up against her to back the Independent candidate. This will help consolidate the Opposition votes. Fielding separate candidates would not have been enough to defeat her. She's a strong candidate," said Bikash Pramanik, the president of the Tamluk Congress committee.

District CPM secretary Niranjan Sihi echoed Pramanik, saying the move was aimed at sending a message to the residents that they had been "cheated" with the false promises Trinamul made the last time.

According to district BJP general secretary Sukumar Das, the move to back the Independent candidate had been suggested by the party leadership in Calcutta.

"It was then that we met and decided it would be imperative to put all our forces together to defeat Maity," Das said.

Asked about Santra, the Independent candidate, local Congress leader Bikash Hazra described him as an "honest person".

Maity rubbished the allegations. "Let them team up against me. I am least bothered. People know who to vote for."

Trinamul MP Sisir Adhikari said the move to back the Independent candidate would not help the Opposition parties at all. "We have made Debika Maity our candidate and we'll campaign for her extensively. Their move won't be successful."

Santra, who is contesting under the sun symbol, said there was need to improve the traffic system and drinking water supply in Tamluk town. "Maity has done nothing."