‘Resist BJP at Every Step if They try to Loot Vote’: Appeals Former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar Before Local Polls

Agartala: Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Saturday said the rule of law had completely been destroyed under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state while urging accountability in recent political violence against cadres of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

“Resist BJP hooligans at every step if they try to loot vote,” CPI(M) Politbureau member Sarkar said while addressing a huge rally organised by the Left Front at Orient Chowmohuni in Agartala town.  Sarkar’s call comes ahead of the elections to 15 municipal bodies scheduled to take place on November 26. The BJP is in power in the rest of the municipal bodies. All the bodies were earlier controlled by the Left Front. After the BJP rose to power in Tripura, all the councillors of the nagar panchayats and municipal bodies were allegedly forced to resign.

“What is happening in the state. Renowned doctor Judhisthir Das has been beaten up for siding with the Left and participating in their campaign. Only yesterday, a CPI candidate for the municipal election was beaten black and blue, and he ended up with a broken hand. BJP hooligans decided to teach him a lesson for stranding with the Left Front,” said Sarkar in his speech, adding that, “In fact, Tripura is seeing it all. On September 8, 44 CPI(M) party offices, including the state headquarters in Agaratala was attacked by a mob allegedly owing allegiance to the  BJP leader and Tripura CM Biplab Deb.

Even after continuous appeals, not a single person was arrested by the Tripura police in connection with the September violence. It was only after public interest litigation was filed that a solitary person was arrested and soon released on bail after the hearing date was over, the former chief minister said. “The whole state is now reeling under a strong wave of terror. The epicentre of the attack is towards the Left and especially the CPI(M),” Sarkar added.

He also alleged that the present government has failed to deliver on all account and hence, the  Prime Minister had to use over 20 minutes in his national speech to bat for the Tripura government. “What is happening in Tripura is that the state is being prepared as a laboratory for the fascist forces,” Sarkar claimed.

Against this backdrop, as political conflict continues to stir the state, the CPI(M) has decided to hold marches and rallies in all the 13 municipal areas that will go to poll.  State Left Front chairman Narayan Kar, ex-chief minister Manik Sarkar, CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury are the prominent faces on behalf of the Left Front leading the campaign in the state. Issues such as 10,323 teachers losing their jobs under Biplab Deb’s rule are also figuring in the election campaign.

There is apprehension among opposition parties whether the elections would be fair and devoid of any illegal meddling. A political commentator said on the condition of anonymity, “If it is just and genuine voting in the municipal election, the BJP will fare poorly, as the earlier buildup regarding good governance has made way for a failed governance this time.”