Former minister Manik Dey has been re-elected as President and Shankar Prasad Datta retains his post as General Secretary at the 16th Tripura State Conference of CITU, marking renewed momentum in Tripura’s workers’ movement against corruption and exploitation.
The 16th Tripura State Conference of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) concluded in Agartala with the re-election of former minister Comrade Manik Dey as President and Comrade Shankar Prasad Datta as General Secretary, reaffirming the leadership’s continuity and the organization’s resolve to strengthen workers’ rights in Tripura.
The announcement came after a press conference at the CITU State Office, where both leaders termed the recently held workers’ rally a “historic success.” Addressing the media, Shankar Prasad Datta said the massive turnout at the public rally demonstrated the growing discontent among Tripura’s working-class population and their faith in CITU’s leadership.
According to Datta, the rally, organized on Sunday, witnessed participation from over 25,000 people, surpassing expectations. “People joined the rally from every corner of the state, making it one of the largest workers’ gatherings in recent years,” he stated.
Allegations Against BJP for Attempted Obstruction
Datta further alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to obstruct the event by instructing its Mandal units to create transportation hurdles and discourage public participation.
“Despite these attempts, the workers’ enthusiasm was unstoppable. Their overwhelming presence clearly reflects the rising anger against anti-labour policies and the government’s failure to address the people’s concerns,” Datta remarked.
Comprehensive Review and 48-Page Report
Following the rally, CITU leaders held an internal session chaired by former minister Aghor Debbarma, where a 48-page report on the organization’s activities and challenges was presented and discussed in detail.
A total of 38 delegates, including 11 women representatives, participated in the deliberations. The report was unanimously adopted, reflecting a strong sense of unity within the organization.
During the session, delegates discussed key issues such as unemployment, wage inequality, irregularities in public employment, and the growing insecurity among industrial workers. The leadership emphasized that CITU’s struggle will intensify in the coming months to safeguard workers’ rights and ensure social and economic justice.
Resolutions and Future Course of Action
Several resolutions were passed during the conference. CITU announced that it would launch intensified movements against corruption, mismanagement, and attacks on workers across different government and private sectors.
The union also demanded the restoration of law and order and called for stronger protection for workers facing exploitation and layoffs.
The leadership emphasized that Tripura’s working class is currently facing numerous challenges under the existing government’s policies, which have allegedly weakened job security, delayed wage payments, and eroded trade union rights.
“CITU stands firmly with the workers of Tripura and will continue to be their voice on every platform,” said Manik Dey, pledging to expand the union’s outreach to unorganized sectors and youth workers.
Formation of New Committee
The new 23-member State Committee was officially announced at the end of the conference.
It includes Manik Dey as President, Shankar Prasad Datta as General Secretary, and Nirmal Roy as Treasurer. The committee vowed to mobilize greater participation from the working class and to coordinate future campaigns across all eight districts of Tripura.
Datta, in his concluding speech, reaffirmed CITU’s commitment:
“CITU will continue to fight for workers’ rights, social justice, and against all forms of exploitation. The coming days will witness intensified struggles on the issues affecting common people — from rising inflation to unemployment and erosion of democratic rights.”
A Renewed Push for the Workers’ Movement
The re-election of veteran leaders like Manik Dey and Shankar Prasad Datta symbolizes both organizational continuity and renewed determination within CITU. Observers believe that under their leadership, Tripura’s trade union movement could see a revitalized phase of grassroots activism, focusing on employment, fair wages, and political accountability.
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With Tripura’s industrial and service sectors undergoing significant transitions, the CITU’s renewed leadership is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the future of labour movements and amplifying the voices of the marginalized workforce across the state.
