CPI(M) leader Jitendra Chaudhury slams Tripura’s statewide bandh as a “scripted drama” from Delhi, accusing BJP and TIPRA Motha of staging a political show to divert public attention from governance failures and rising discontent across the state.
In a sharp political attack, Leader of the Opposition and CPI(M) Politburo member Jitendra Chaudhury on Thursday dismissed the state-wide bandh called by sections of Tripura’s civil society as nothing more than a “scripted drama directed from Delhi.” He alleged that the shutdown was deliberately orchestrated to deflect public attention from the government’s mounting failures in governance and rising dissatisfaction among the people.
Speaking to reporters, Chaudhury accused both the ruling BJP and its ally TIPRA Motha of engaging in what he termed a “political performance,” designed to mislead citizens. “The BJP and TIPRA Motha are trying to put up a show—fighting in the morning and smiling together by evening. Why this drama?” Chaudhury asked, adding that the bandh was “well produced and scripted from Delhi,” specifically naming Union Home Minister Amit Shah and TIPRA Motha’s leadership as orchestrators of the event.
According to Chaudhury, the shutdown was not a spontaneous expression of public grievance but rather a strategic distraction from the deepening crises of unemployment, inflation, and administrative neglect. “After over five years of BJP rule and TIPRA Motha’s control over the ADC, the people—both in the hills and the plains—are bearing the burden of their misrule,” he asserted.
The CPI(M) leader said the bandh had also exposed how the ruling dispensation was becoming increasingly alienated from the people. “Their promises have evaporated, and public trust is collapsing. What we are witnessing is frustration disguised as agitation,” he added.
Disruption of Essential Services
Chaudhury strongly condemned the disruption caused by the bandh, particularly its impact on essential services and emergency work. He claimed that hospital staff on duty were being stopped and that police personnel were seizing the keys of motorcycles on the roads. “If people going to hospitals are being blocked, what message does that send to society?” he questioned.
He urged the administration to ensure that hospitals, transportation, and other key services remain functional during such protests, warning that public suffering must not be used for political gain. “This is not civil society speaking—it is a political act masked as a people’s movement,” Chaudhury maintained.
Accusation of Government Complicity
In a striking revelation, the Leader of the Opposition pointed out that out of twelve ministers in the Tripura government, only two were present in their offices during the bandh. “Ten ministers, including the Chief Minister, did not attend office. This clearly shows how the government extended its indirect support to the bandh,” he alleged.
He further reminded that the government, in its notification on Wednesday, had publicly stated it did not support the bandh and would take action against those participating in it. “But what happened in reality is the exact opposite—the bandh went on with silent approval,” he said.
‘Political Drama’ and the Road Ahead
Chaudhury termed the event a “political drama” intended to divert public attention from the government’s failures. He argued that rather than addressing the issues of rising prices, joblessness, and social insecurity, the ruling parties were staging spectacles to shift the political narrative.
“This is theatre, not a people’s movement,” he declared. “The government is using such tactics to mask its inability to deliver on promises. Instead of solving problems, it is promoting confusion and distraction.”
The CPI(M) leader also warned that the encouragement of such bandhs could embolden similar future protests, further disrupting administrative work and governance. “If the government itself begins to play with fire, the system will collapse under its own contradictions,” he cautioned.
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Chaudhury added that the ongoing spectacle could ironically boost the popularity of TIPRA Motha and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), who might benefit from public sympathy generated by the bandh’s chaos. “It’s a dangerous gamble. The BJP might end up empowering its allies more than itself,” he remarked.
Call for Responsible Governance
Concluding his remarks, Jitendra Chaudhury called upon the state administration to restore normalcy and protect public welfare, urging the government to prioritize the needs of citizens over political theatrics. “Tripura needs governance, not stage-managed spectacles,” he said. “The people deserve accountability, not another act in this ongoing drama.”
