After one day of a crucial state committee meeting of CPI(M), party’s general secretary Sitaram Yechury said that party’s first priority and focus is to liberate Tripura from ‘reign of terror’ and restore democracy in the state.

Addressing a press conference here at CPI(M) headquarters on Wednesday morning, Sitaram Yechury accompanied by CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury said ‘we consider the coming assembly elections in Tripura is very crucial, not only for Tripura, the people of Tripura and for protection of democracy and to protect rule of law ,rule of constitution, it is very important in the context of Northeast and in the larger context of national politics.’

He said that going with the experience of the last five years, all the promises are made, the ruling BJP failed to fulfil their promises and betrayed the people of Tripura.

As per the record of the National Crime Record Bureau, Tripura is now top in the country for political violence, even the Chief Minister himself said Tripura is now corridor for drugs, said Yechury and added that none of the promises they made before 2018 assembly elections including 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) for employees were not fulfil till date.

Along with the entire nation, BJP also sharpens communal polarization, said Yechury and added that instead of answering the question over the promises, the Union Home Minister announced the inauguration of Ram temple, just before the general elections of the country in 2024 to divert the attention of people from their legitimate rights.

“A reign of terror has been unleashed across the state and if people of the state want to restore the democracy and constitution of India, it absolutely essential that BJP must be defeated,” said Yechury and added that they had detailed discussion in the state committee meeting held on Tuesday  that their primary focus on the cooperation and unity of all secular forces and the state committee too pursue the unity of all secular political forces to ensure defeat of BJP in the interest of the people of Tripura and rule of the constitution of the India.

He said that the miseries of the state people along with their livelihood deteriorated drastically in last five years and added that they are seeking unity of all secular forces, which is the prime focus of the party and state committee will continue their persuasion with Congress and Tipra-Motha for greater pre-poll alliance in Tripura.

Referring a question over the alliance of CPI(M) and Congress in West Bengal and its poll results, Yechury said that the Central committee of the party had criticised the Bengal committee not for seat adjustment with Congress, but they took the seat adjustment into political front. He said that seat sharing was a correct position. “During the 23rd party Congress, we have a clear-cut concept that the primary target is to isolate BJP and in order to isolate BJP, our own strength should strengthen and unity of the Left forces should also be strengthened,” said Yechury.

The unity of Left and all democratic forces to form an alternation Left-democratic front to defeat BJP and to ensure the defeat of BJP , the party will adopt suitable electoral tactics to maximise the support of non-BJP votes and it should be broadest possible mobilization of all secular forces before “Hindutva communalism”.

He said the party is very clear in the form of broadening possible mobilization of all secular forces. He also said that the principal forces like Congress and Motha can be the partners of Left-Democratic alliance. Yechury also said that if the alliance is formed  then agendas will be taken under the framework of Indian constitution.

While speaking in the press meet CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury said that earlier some regional parties demanded for separate Tripura, but their present demand is within the framework of constitution and the party also are in touch with both parties. He said that maximum autonomy for tribal areas must be provided.

Chowdhury also said that in principle both Congress and Tipra-Motha are ready, but for alliance there will be more discussion among all parties for a clear picture by maintaining positions of all parties. Chowdhury also appealed to all parties  to come together to ensure the defeat of BJP in coming assembly elections.

He also said that issues like retrenched 10, 323 teachers and other issues of the state will also be sorted out if the party voted to power. He said that the state committee meeting had also detailed discussion over the organizational matter of the party and poll strategy of the party.

Chowdhury also warned government officials against payment of bills run up by BJP in visits of party leaders on party programmes. He said that the prime minister’s Narendra Modi’s programme on November 18 had been notified as a government programme for which the government had a liability to make payment to vehicle owners who carried people to the meeting site and for meeting other related expenses. “But the ruling BJP government has started a devious game of paying private bills for party programmes addressed by the union home minister Amit Shah on January 5 and other leaders from public exchequer which is not only irregular but illegal” said Chowdhury and added that that  paying such bills , indicating that the entire issue of financial irregularity will be investigated and proceeded against in the event of a regime change .