Agartala, Apr 16(UNI) The Forward Block (FB), which severed ties with the Left Front prior to the Assembly elections in Tripura, has decided to join hands once again and fight the price hike of essential commodities.

Senior leaders of the front today said FB president Brjagopal Roy had, in a letter to the Convenor of the Tripura Left Front, said, ''The Forward Block, after reviewing the Election results in the just-concluded Tripura Legislative Assembly, decided to join the Front and work unitedly with them.'' Left Front Convenor Khagen Das has in turn welcomed the return, stating, ''The Left front welcomes the homecoming of their former member and this decision will make the front stronger against the anti-people policies of the present Central government.'' The Forward Block, on its own, fought in 11 constituencies and though they failed to make their mark, the Left Front lost two of the important seats owing to the division of the votes in Kamalpur and Bdarghat Assembly constituencies.

The Left Front, which is going to stage demonstrations all over India on the issue of the price rise, now got a shot in the arm with the return of the Forward Block.

UNI XC LL AE HS1331