Tripura CPI(M) to intensify movement for "restoring democracy"

The CPI(M) will intensify its movement against the BJP-IPFT government in Tripura to "restore democracy and establish rule of law", the opposition party resolved in its 22nd state committee conference Monday.

Political and ideological battle would be strengthened to win over people especially from the tribal communities, the newly elected state Secretary of the party Gautam Das said.

The mass support base of the left party had declined in tribal areas, which came to light in the results of the assembly elections, CPI(M) politburo member Prakash Karat said in a statement here.

"Our three strong fortresses Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura - are being targeted by the RSS and the BJP.... It is not enough to defeat them in electoral battles, but they should be isolated through ideological struggle," Karat said.

After the party's uninturrupted 25-year rule ended in March at the hands of the BJP and the IPFT, the party is now in power only in Kerala. The Trinamool Congress defeated CPI(M) led Left Front in West Bengal after a 34-year-long rule in 2011.

The state conference also identified sectors where the party suffered losses in the election and the party would strive to revive those areas, Das said.

"We have completed our 22nd state committee conference in a difficult situation. Democracy has withered away within nine months of the BJP-IPFT government in Tripura. The ruling parties have let loose a reign of terror. So, we have resolved to restore democracy and establish the rule of law," Das said.

Das was the editor of Daily Desher Katha, the party's mouthpiece in Tripura, since August 15, 1979 to March 31, 2015, and a member of the state committee since 1986.

The outgoing secretary Bijan Dhar, a central committee member who remained in the state post for over nine years, said 299 members attended the conference, which elected a state committee of 75 members.

The size of the committee was reduced from 80 to 75 this time with induction 16 new members.

Dhar said five politburo members - General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri, Prakash Karat, Manik Sarkar, Brinda Karat and Biman Basu attended the conference.