Tripura LoP Jitendra Chaudhury slams BJP-led government, claiming only ruling party leaders became “smart” while civic services in Agartala deteriorate. CPIM protests rising utility prices, smart meters, and demands resolution of local issues. Accusations of corruption, mismanagement, and rigged elections stir political heat in the state.
Leader of the Opposition in Tripura Assembly, Jitendra Chaudhury, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government, accusing it of failing to deliver on the promises of development under the banner of “Smart City” while enriching a select group of ruling party leaders.
Speaking at a mass sit-in demonstration organized by the CPIM’s Abhaynagar Local Committee in Agartala, Chaudhury said that under the BJP regime, the only thing that has become “smart” is the lifestyle of ruling party leaders—not the services or infrastructure meant for the common people.
“Tripura’s roads, drinking water systems, and civic facilities haven’t become smart—only the houses, appearances, and bank accounts of ruling party MLAs, corporators, and local leaders have,” Chaudhury asserted.
The protest was organized to press demands for rolling back recent hikes in essential utility prices, including electricity, CNG, PNG, drinking water, and Gomati dairy milk. The CPIM also demanded the withdrawal of smart meters, which have sparked widespread dissatisfaction among the public. Additionally, the Left party raised a slew of local civic issues that remain unresolved.
In his sharply worded address, Chaudhury alleged that the much-hyped Smart City project in Agartala has failed on all fronts due to widespread mismanagement and corruption. “Agartala is reeling under garbage, unclean drains, and dilapidated roads. Yet, the ruling party leaders are busy turning their own lives ‘smart’ with wealth amassed through misuse of power,” he said.
He accused the BJP of turning public offices into hubs of political patronage rather than service-oriented institutions. “Those who grabbed power through rigged elections and manipulated votes to become corporators and MLAs are the ones reaping the benefits. Even Mandal leaders and booth-level presidents, whose only qualification is loyalty to power, have prospered enormously,” he claimed.
The CPIM leader, also a member of the party’s politburo, stressed that the collapse of civic administration in Agartala is not merely a result of inefficiency but also of systemic corruption enabled by the ruling dispensation.
“It’s not enough to just drain out sewage water from Agartala city. A political cleansing is the need of the hour,” Chaudhury said, hinting at the larger need for governance reform and electoral accountability.
The sit-in saw the participation of several CPIM leaders, local workers, and supporters who raised slogans against the government’s policies and alleged failures in addressing pressing civic concerns. Banners and posters at the venue reflected the anger of common citizens over inflated bills, erratic water supply, and poorly maintained roads.
The CPIM has been increasingly vocal against the state government’s recent policy decisions, especially on utility pricing and digital infrastructure like smart meters, which many residents claim are faulty and prone to overcharging.
The protest comes in the backdrop of growing discontent among the urban population, particularly in Agartala, where civic services have reportedly worsened despite the city being selected for the central government’s Smart City Mission. Critics argue that while funds have been sanctioned, their utilization has been patchy and non-transparent.
Chaudhury’s statements are likely to intensify political friction ahead of the upcoming municipal reviews and urban infrastructure evaluations. The opposition is expected to continue its pressure on the state government by mobilizing public opinion through such localized protests and issue-based campaigns.
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Whether the state administration responds to the CPIM’s demands remains to be seen. However, the protest has clearly signaled that the opposition is not willing to stay silent on what it terms the “cosmetic development model” of the BJP-led administration.
