Agartala, Dec 27 (Representative) A step ahead of much talked about the electoral understanding of non-BJP parties, CPI(M) led left front, and Congress on Tuesday issued a joint statement calling upon the people to unite against the alleged misrule of BJP led government in Tripura. The statement mentioned that the initiative of CPI(M) and Congress has been undertaken for the sake of restoration of democracy, re-establishment of rule of law, and conducting a free and fair election, which was also endorsed by the TIPRA Motha supremo and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman. CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Choudhury said, “TIPRA Motha Chairman has also been consulted on the issues and he broadly endorsed the views of Congress and CP(IM). He is right now not available in Agartala.” He said the joint statement was a part of the initiative to bring all secular and democratic forces together ahead of the assembly elections in Tripura to defeat the BJP. Although the list of the parties in the move has not yet been finalized, Choudhury said details of the initiative will be made known very shortly.
“One must not misunderstand the initiative as political adjustment or alignment for the elections”, he said adding that non-BJP parties have been working hard to restore normalcy in the state where democratic values have been throttled in the past 58 months of BJP rule”, Choudhury said. The statement was signed by Congress state president Birjit Sinha, CPI(M) secretary Jitendra Choudhury, and the chief of CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc, and CPI (ML), which appealed to the people to unite for the restoration of democracy, fundamental rights, and personal liberty is destroyed, media and opposition parties were attacked, the election rights of the citizens have been snatched away, and nothing remains for the citizens right. “Murder, mayhem, violence, extortion, and all fascist activities are going on under BJP’s rule from the very first day. The basic right to life and liberty has been looted, a large number of opposition supporters had to leave their homes and hearth due to atrocities of BJP cadres, women are raped and police play mute rule against the ruling party miscreants instead of implicating false cases against the opposition.
Now, a united fight to establish rule of law is the only option,” the statement reads. It mentioned that the priority of the people and parties is to restore democracy and create a congenial environment where the electors could exercise their democratic rights freely and added, “The Election Commission of India has to ensure election in a democratic environment and a section of policemen who become blind to the misdeed of BJP cadres has to be punished.” The former BJP minister and incumbent Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman earlier announced that the party will leave no stone unturned to defeat the BJP in the 2023 elections, an affirmation which was seen as indicative of extending a hand towards the CPI(M) and TIPRA Motha Assuming that the Congress will be part of the CPI(M)’s joint initiative’, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee said the saffron party is not worried about it and added, “Affairs of Congress and the CPIM) is nothing new to the people of Tripura. Earlier, it was a secret and now it is open. The people had taught a lesson to both parties in the 2018 assembly election and they will reject them this time too,” he added.