The INDIA alliance in Tripura convened a meeting on Wednesday with the goal of uniting opposition forces against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The gathering, held at the Agartala Press Club, saw the convergence of eight political parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Congress, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Communist Party of India, All India Forward Bloc, Gana Mancha, and Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist), alongside the Tripura Peoples Party.
Prominent leaders, including Ashish Saha, the INDIA bloc candidate for West Tripura, Jiten Choudhury of the CPM, and Sudip Roybarman from the Congress, gathered to strategize a unified approach for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Roybarman articulated the shared sentiment of the bloc, emphasizing their collective objective to safeguard democracy from the BJP’s perceived threats.
Accusations were levelled against the BJP for allegedly exploiting central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Income Tax Department to further its political interests. Allegations of electoral malpractice, particularly concerning electoral bonds, were raised, fueling the bloc’s resolve to counter what they perceive as an erosion of democratic values.
Roybarman condemned the BJP’s track record, citing unfulfilled promises of job creation and repatriation of black money. He highlighted the surge in unemployment despite the BJP’s assurances, stating, “The BJP earlier promised two crore jobs annually, but after a decade in power, unemployment is at its peak. Not a single peso of black money has been recovered. People understand the BJP’s bluff.”
Furthermore, Roybarman emphasized the Congress Working Committee’s manifesto, outlining 25 assurances as an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledges. These include proposals for women’s reservation in central government jobs and an expanded budget for Dalits.
Jiten Choudhary, the CPM State Secretary, drew parallels between the current opposition unity and the historic collaboration during India’s struggle for independence. He remarked, “Earlier during the struggle for independence, every political party, irrespective of their backgrounds, had come together to liberate the country from British rule, and today the situation is no different. We all political parties have come together to liberate the country from the unjust rule of the BJP.”
