RSP moves top level against announcement of Manik Sarkar’s candidature as Tripura CM

Agartala, Sep 6: Left front partner RSP state committee has finally taken up the matter of arbitrary announcement of Tripura CPI(M) regarding Manik Sarkar as Chief Ministerial candidate of left parties for upcoming assembly election with the top level of CPI(M) and RSP. RSP Tripura state committee General Secretary Sudarshan Bhattacharjee took up the matter with RSP General Secretary T J Chandrachoodan against CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar who had told media that there is no confusion over Mr Sarkar’s election contest and he would fight and if wins Mr Sarkar will be the Chief Minister. According to report, Mr Chandrachoodan spoke to CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri last night and informed their resentment against such unauthorised big-brother attitude of CPI(M) violating the ethical code of left front. The RSP leadership here today assured that there was no such discussion in CPI(M) central committee regarding selection of Chief Ministerial candidate for Tripura so far and state committee is not authorised to speak up the matter in public until it is being decided in the party central committee, They further claimed that Mr Yechuri has assured to look into the matter to strengthen left unity. “Before 1993 assembly election, CPI(M) Tripura state committee had wanted Late Nripen Chakraborty to be the Chief Minister but party central committee didn’t approve it. Finally, Dasharath Deb became the Chief Minister. So, state committee may want someone or something but before it goes to public that has to be discussed among left partners after due approval of the party,” Mr Yechuri told RSP leaders. Announcement of Manik Sarkar as Chief Ministerial candidate has not only annoyed the left partners also made several leaders of CPI(M) unhappy, said a senior CPI(M) leader of Tripura adding that with the growth of BJP and tribal parties like IPFT and INPT, the selection of Chief Minister is very crucial. “There is a long debate over importance of tribal leaders in CPI(M) politics of Tripura. In fact, except a single tenure of Dasharath Deb (1993-98) there was no other Chief Minister from tribal community in 45 yrs existence of Tripura where 40 yrs was leftist rule. There was a long pending demand of tribal Chief Minister but it was ignored for different reason and this time it is very crucial because of changing landscape of politics,” the CPI(M) leaders said on anonymity. Earlier, CPI(M) secretary Dhar told media that ruling party has decided to project Manik Sarkar as chief ministerial candidate for the state assembly polls due in early next year and asserted that 8th left front government would form under the leadership of Mr Sarkar. He further attributed that Mr Sarkar was reluctant to contest election but had to agree following party decision. The CPI(M) rank and file was confused over re-election of Mr Sarkar after the party denied the candidature of CPI(M) Chief Sitaram Yechuri in Rajya Sabha from West Bengal with the help of Congress. UNI