CPM willing to support Tipra Motha in VC formation: LoP

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Tripura Leader of the Opposition and CPIM politburo member Jitendra Chaudhury on Tuesday said the CPI(M) was willing to support Tipra Motha in forming village committees where the latter lacked a majority, provided it committed to transparent functioning, accountability and adherence to democratic procedures.

Interacting with media persons, Chaudhury ruled out any possibility of supporting the BJP, alleging that the party was associated with corruption, irregularities and the erosion of democratic practices.

Explaining the CPI(M)'s position, Chaudhury said decisions on supporting candidates for the formation of village committees would depend on local political equations and the commitments made by those seeking support.

“If Tipra Motha candidates who have failed to secure a majority approach us and commit to ensuring proper procedures, village assemblies and accountability to the people, we will support them, excluding the BJP,” he said.

Chaudhury said such support could prove decisive in villages where one or two additional votes were needed to secure a majority and elect chairpersons. He stressed that the CPI(M) was prepared to support those who worked honestly for the development of the state.

He cited the example of a village where nine seats had been divided among the BJP, Tipra Motha and the CPI(M), with three, four and two seats respectively. In such situations, he said, the formation of the village committee would depend on the support available to the parties.

Questioning the BJP, Tipra Motha and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) leadership’s emphasis on their triangular alliance under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Chaudhury said the arrangement at the leadership level did not necessarily reflect political preferences at the grassroots.

He argued that supporters continued to identify themselves with their respective parties rather than the NDA, claiming that the BJP and Tipra Motha faced resistance among sections of their own supporters when it came to working together at the village level.

Chaudhury said the immediate priority was to form village committees and ensure that the elected bodies could function through the appointment of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.

Referring to developments in Gomati, Unakoti and North Tripura districts, he claimed that the BJP lacked public acceptance in several areas. He alleged that the party's functioning was marked by irregularities and corruption and said the CPI(M) had no confidence in it.

There was no immediate response from the BJP, Tipra Motha or IPFT to Chaudhury's allegations.

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