The Tripura Left Front committee on Wednesday evening announced their candidate list leaving 13 seats vacant for Congress and this the first time in the political history of Tripura, CPI (M) and Congress shared the seats for 60-members assembly elections, which would be  held on February  16 next.

But, significantly the lone politburo member and opposition leader Manik Sarkar along with seven more top leaders of the CPI(M),  big partner of the Left Front has been dropped and LF also support independent candidate senior advocate Purushuttam Roy Barman, who will contest the assembly election from7-Ramnagar assembly constituency.

The Left Front leaders addressing a press conference here at CPI (M) here at CPI(M) headquarters on Wednesday evening said that they are still open minded and are ready to adjust the seats for Tipra-Motha.

Speaking in the press meet LF convener Narayan Kar said that in the 13th assembly elections for Tripura, the CPI(M) will contest the elections in 43 seats and the partner Congress will contest the poll in 13 seats. Apart from this, other LF ally CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc will contest the polls in one seat each and the LF will support one independent candidate senior advocate Purushuttam Roy Barman from 7-Ramnagar assembly seats.

Most surprisingly, the former Chief Minister and incumbent leader of opposition Manik Sarkar willingly stayed away from parliamentary politics and opted to work for the organization of the party, said Kar and added that CPI (M) Politburo member Manik Sarkar will be face of the party’s campaign. While, veteran leaders like Badal Chowdhury, Tapan Chakraborty, Bhanulal Sha, Narayan Chandra Chowdhury were also dropped from the list and other senior CPI(M) leaders like Sahid Chowdhury, Jashbir Tripura and Mabasar Ali were also dropped and all these eight leaders are the sitting MLAs of CPI(M).

This time the party has nominated 24 new faces, who are mostly from the youth brigade of the party including two candidates from retrenched 10,323 teachers including Nayan Sarkar from Bamutia (SC) constituency and Satyajit Reang from Santirbazar constituency.

Two women candidates including Brinda Debbarma from 17—Golaghati(ST) reserved constituency will contest the election as new face and another woman candidate and sitting MLA Bijita Nath will contest from her previous constituency 55-Bagpassa.

CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury will contest from 40-Sabroom general assembly constituency.

The Left Front has has leave the 13 assembly segments for their partner Congress including  2-Mohanpur,6-Agartala, 8-Town Bardowali,9-Banamalipur, 18-Surjamaninagar, 19-Charilam(ST), 28-Teliamura, 32-Matabari, 45-Kamalpur, 48-Karamcherra (ST), 53-Kailasahar, 56-Dharmanagar and 59-Pecharthal (ST) constituencies.

Meanwhile, speaking in the press meet Jitendra Chowdhury said that till Wednesday morning, they had talks with Tipra-Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Debbarma and over written commitment for ‘Greater Tipraland’ demand of Motha, Chowdhury said that Motha are demanding for their constitutional rights under Article-244(A), but it will not give them power like state.

He said that LF always supports their demand for autonomy of ADC areas, direct funding, socio-economic, cultural and linguistic development of indigenous population of the state, but without bifurcation of the state within the state, which is geographically not possible in a state like Tripura.

“We are supporting their demand for development 200%, but the idea of greater Tipraland will not give power for development,” said Chowdhury and added that they have also given proposal to Motha leader to constitute a committee to finalize a draft for development of ADC areas and for indigenous populations. Chowdhury said that Motha chairman Pradyot Kishore in reply said that they will examine the proposal. “Till today we are appealing to Motha to join the democratic and secular platform to ensure the defeat of ‘autocratic’ BJP and to ensure the rules of law and restoration of democracy in the state.

As BJP is number-one enemy of all of us, we are still hoping that Motha will come under our common platform for overall development of the state and the party is ready for seat adjustment despite declaration of candidate list, said Chowdhury.

He is also hopeful that the people of the state will ensure the massive victory of all LF  and Congress candidates to restore democracy and to end of black days under BJP rule.