CPI (M) and Congress address joint press conference, call for defeat of BJP and condemn lack of level playing field

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 6, 2023

For the first time in state’s history traditional political rivals the CPI (M) and Congress today held a joint press conference in Agartala Press Club this morning calling for ouster of BJP from power and restoring the rule of law and constitution in Tripura. The press conference was addressed by CPI (M) state secretary Jiten Chowdhury, left front convener Narayan Kar, representatives of front constituents and PCC president Birajit Sinha and AICC secrerary Tzaritha Laiphang.

Both Jiten Chowdhury and Birajit Sinha said that as parties the CPI (M) and Congress have differences over economic policies and other issues but both the parties are democratic and secular . “We have come together as part of peoples wishes to rid the state of the menace of BJP and restore rule of law and constitution; the state is being destroyed by BJP and we want to save it from disaster” said Birajit and Jiten. They added that if the BJP government comes back to power Tripura will be headed for an all round catastrophe.

Explaining the coming together of both the parties despite differences in ideologies, policies and programmes , Jiten and Birajit said that it is the demand of time and people . They said that even the ‘Tipra Motha’ does not want a division of opposition votes and has already made an appeal in this regard. “The Tipra Motha leader wanted a closer understanding with Congress and BJP but he alone can not decided on everything and he was under pressure from many quarters but he has made the appeal all the same” said Jiten , adding that he had personally spoken to ‘Tipra Motha’ supremo several times on the issue. They said that despite appeals likely to be made by prime minister and home minister and other central ministers the people should not spoil their future by voting for BJP.

The AICC secretary Tzaritha Laiphang deplored the fact that despite promises made by the election commission to provide a level playing field this is not happening in many parts of the state . “In many places police remain inactive even when violence takes place in front of their eyes; our flag and festoons are destroyed before them but they do not intervene to stop this ; this has now become a routine and we appeal to the election commission to honour its commitment to the people of the state” said Tzaritha Laiphang. The front constituents RSP, CPI and Forward Block whose leaders also attended the press meet said that the people of the state have been living in a suffocating condition and BJP must be removed from power in the interest of people.