Agartala, June 18:
The CPI(M) on Thursday began a crucial two-day state committee meeting in Agartala with a focus on reviewing recent electoral setbacks, preparing for upcoming elections in Tripura, and assessing the evolving national political situation, including efforts to strengthen the opposition INDIA bloc.
The meeting at the party’s state headquarters is being attended by CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby along with Politburo members Md Salim, Pradip Bhattacharya and Jitendra Chaudhury beside former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and other top leaders of the party.
Addressing reporters, Leader of Opposition and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said the meeting was part of the party’s regular review process held at intervals of one-and-a-half to two months.
He said the leadership would discuss major global, national and state-level political, social and economic developments, besides reviewing the outcome of recent elections across the country.
According to Chaudhury, the meeting will assess the party’s performance in the recent Assembly elections in five states, particularly in Kerala where the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front suffered a significant setback. The leadership will also formulate future organisational and political strategies in light of the changing political situation especially in West Bengal.
The deliberations assume added significance in Tripura as they come ahead of the Village Committee elections scheduled later this year and with less than two years remaining before the next Assembly elections in the state.
The Left is seeking to strengthen its organisational base, especially in tribal areas where the Village Committee polls are considered politically important.
Chaudhury said discussions would also cover issues such as rising prices of petroleum products and essential commodities, which he attributed to the wrong policies of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
On national politics, the CPI(M) leader stressed the importance of opposition unity and efforts to rejuvenate the INDIA bloc.
While acknowledging differences among constituent parties, he said discussions within the alliance had addressed concerns over the role played by major partners, including the Congress, in recent elections.
He said Left parties had raised these issues constructively during recent INDIA bloc discussions and expressed hope that all constituent parties would work together to strengthen the alliance and mount an effective challenge to the BJP in future electoral contests.
The presence of the CPI(M)’s top national leadership at the Agartala meeting is being seen as a reflection of Tripura’s continued strategic importance for the party, particularly at a time when it is attempting to regain political ground in the state while simultaneously playing a key role in shaping opposition politics at the national level.
