Day after talks, setback for efforts to form Tripura anti-BJP front: Left unilaterally names bypoll nominees

He added, “Constitution and democracy are attacked in a fascist system under BJP rule in Tripura. The BJP-led government in Tripura is busy obstructing the voice of the Opposition. All Opposition political activities are de facto banned in Dhanpur and Boxanagar, we aren’t allowed to open our party offices there. Amidst a crisis of food, work, and democracy, the government is a silent spectator. But we are fighting and have decided to contest both Dhanpur and Boxanagar bypolls.”

State Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha did not agree with the Left leader. He claimed that he came to know about the Left Front candidates’ list in the evening and said he would discuss the matter with the Congress high command. Saha said that during the tripartite discussion on Saturday, it had been decided that candidates would be fielded based on a consensus between the three parties and not unilaterally. The TIPRA Motha did not react.

Kar appealed to the “Congress and all other parties to unite the anti-BJP votes”. CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said the BJP won the Assembly polls because of the division of Opposition votes. “We had a preliminary meeting with the Congress and TIPRA Motha leaders about ensuring that anti-BJP votes don’t get divided. CPIM has traditionally contested the two seats that are scheduled to undergo by-election. So, we appeal cooperation from the Congress and TIPRA Motha not for the bypoll alone, but for a longer and sustained fight to save democracy,” he said.

BJP undeterred

On Saturday, the three parties held a marathon meeting at the Assembly building to thrash out a strategy to take on the BJP. Their first attempt to unite had come before the Assembly elections in February. It failed because Motha walked out and contested the polls alone, turning the contest into a three-way one in most constituencies.

The BJP won the elections with 32 seats in the 60-member Assembly and with a little over 38% of the vote share. The balance was divided among the Left-Congress alliance and Motha. It is this arithmetic that propelled the three parties to consider allying again. The meeting between the Opposition parties occurred despite the post-poll bitterness between them. The CPI(M), in recent months, accused the Motha of having a “clandestine understanding” with the BJP.

TIPRA Motha leader Animesh Debbarma, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, CPI(M) state secretary and legislative party leader Jitendra Chaudhury, Congress state president Ashish Kumar Saha, former minister and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, Congress MLA Gopal Chandra Roy, former ministers Ratan Bhowmik and Manik De of the CPI(M) were at the meeting.

Addressing the media afterwards, Saha said the three discussed their strategy and were hopeful of “reaching a conclusion soon”. He claimed the three parties had pledged to make a united effort to defeat the BJP. “We discussed the bypolls and agreed on our first and foremost agenda — defeating the BJP. We’ll need to discuss it in further detail.”

On Saturday, Saha expressed hope that the other parties would also hold internal discussions on the bypolls. “We shall let you know who will fight from which seat. The discussion is positive as of now. I hope this time a straight fight (against the BJP) will be the focus,” he said.

Despite the recent mudslinging between the CPI(M) and the TIPRA Motha, neither party appeared to carry the old bitterness at the meeting. Animesh Debbarma said, “… we joined the meeting and discussed that the anti-ruling party votes should not get divided. However, no decision has been reached yet. Let’s see what happens. I told them I alone can’t take such a big decision.” Admitting that the Assembly election verdict “didn’t go as expected”, Debbarma said efforts would be made to make sure “the same thing isn’t repeated”.

Without clarifying his party’s stand on a tripartite alliance, the TIPRA Motha leader said the decision to fight the by-elections together should “reflect the will of the people”. “I told them that I shall take up the matter in our party meeting. The party will take the decision. But whatever people want needs to happen,” he said.

Political observers said TIPRA Motha’s desperation to join the Opposition bandwagon was partially propelled by its frustrated ambitions of getting a “constitutional solution” for tribals. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) and the Congress have solidified their partnership nationally with the opposition INDIA alliance.

The BJP did not appear unduly perturbed by the Opposition meeting. Soon after the three parties met, the top brass of the state BJP held a meeting at the party headquarters in Agartala. Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, state BJP president Rajib Bhattacharya, vice president Dr Ashok Sinha, former Deputy CM Jishnu Devvarma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury were among the senior leaders who were at the meeting.

Chowdhury later told reporters, “We are convinced we shall win both seats (that will undergo by-election) with huge margins. This was our first meeting, in which, we discussed our poll strategy. Many senior leaders attended the meeting. We need to win both seats and hope the people will vote for the BJP. We have decided to start organisational meetings in Dhanpur and Boxanagar from August 15. We shall submit our nominations on August 17.”

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As per the EC announcement, nomination papers for the bypolls have to be submitted by August 17 and the candidates can withdraw their nominations by August 21. Polling is scheduled for September 5 and counting will be held on September 8.