CPIM-Congress Rift Intensifies Over Rajya Sabha Election Results in Tripura

Agartala, September 4, 2024 – Tensions have escalated between the Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPIM) and the Congress party following the recent Rajya Sabha election in Tripura, reflecting a deepening rift between the erstwhile allies. The discord centers around the election held on September 3, which saw BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharya secure the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Tripura.

The Congress, which had previously allied with the CPIM for the 2023 Tripura Legislative Assembly elections, chose to abstain from voting in the Rajya Sabha contest. Congress leaders accused the CPIM of excluding them from critical discussions related to the election and the selection of candidates. Sudip Roy Barman, a Congress MLA and former minister, voiced frustration with the CPIM’s unilateral decision-making. “They make decisions, and we are expected to execute them. This will not happen,” Barman stated, condemning the CPIM for allegedly facilitating the BJP’s consolidation of power in Tripura.

In rebuttal, CPIM State Committee Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury criticized the Congress for acting independently without attempting to build a broader coalition against the BJP. Chaudhury expressed dismay that Congress did not collaborate with other secular parties to counter what he termed as the BJP’s “anti-constitutional measures.”

The escalating feud highlights the deteriorating relationship between the CPIM and Congress, potentially impacting their political strategies and alliances in future elections both in Tripura and nationally.