Veteran Tripura CPI(M) leader Biswajit Dutta resigns

Veteran Tripura communist leader Biswajit Dutta today announced his resignation from all party posts in protest against an "?vil caucus" constantly conspiring against him for past couple of years.

The 68-year-old Dutta (68) is Khowai district committee secretary of CPI(M).

At a press conference at his residence in Khowai district today, Dutta said party leaders had lied outright on his supposed illness shortly before the February 18 assembly election due to which he could not contest the poll.

Dutta, who was announced CPM candidate at Khowai assembly constituency, was replaced by a youth leader on the ground of his alleged critical illness.

Dutta said he was admitted at Gobind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital here on January 28 for some illness but Subhendu Bikash Dey, a state party leader from the district falsely claimed he was seriously ill and was admitted at Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Dutta was later replaced by youth leader Nirmal Biswas, who won with a margin of over 2,700 votes.

Biswajit Dutta, who has been in the communist party since 1964, said there was very little space to talk in the party these days.

?I have difference of opinion with the state committee. I wanted to talk on several issues. I approached former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar too but he deferred them for later as well. Where is the place to talk?? he asked.

When asked if he chose to resign due to CPI(M)?s fall from power, the veteran leader brushed off speculations and said he started politics at a time when left parties were not in power.

?We also braved the Congress-TUJS coalition regime from 1988 which was far worse than the current BJP-IPFT government?s rule?, Dutta said.

BJP spokesperson Mrinal Kanti Deb congratulated him on leaving CPi(M) and said the communist party does not know to respect founder leaders.

?Congratulations, Mr. Dutta. Finally you have come out from the party, who does not know how to give respect to founder members?, Deb said in a tweet this afternoon.

Later today, CPM state secretary Bijan Dhar said he had heard about Biswajit Dutta?s resignation but declined to comment on the subject.

?I shall try to get in touch with him. The state committee will also consider whether his resignation will be accepted or not?, he said.

The state secretary is currently at Hydebarad along with other leaders to attend the 22nd CPM Party Congress.