Tripura Assembly Polls 2023: Twin traits of LF put Congress in twin troubles
The announcement of candidate list on January 25 by the Left Front leaders for February 16 Assembly Polls in Tripura has exposed CPM's twin traits – committing historical blunders repeatedly and playing like an all powerful big brother. Moreover, the announcement has put Tripura Congress in twin troubles – utter humiliation and undermining its relevance in State Politics.
The Left leaders put up CPM candidates in 43 seats out of the total 60 Assembly seats. It allotted three seats to its Left Constituents – one each to CPI, FB and RSP. The Left Front will extend its support to an Independent candidate who was a former CPM activists and a Human Rights activist – this make total 47 seats. The Left Front leaders allotted remaining 13 seats to its ally in Tripura, Congress. (The ratio of seat sharing almost 80:20). For obvious reasons, Congress leaders and supporters are unhappy.
| Read Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barmans' reaction |
Historical blunder prone Left Front’s decision to join hands with Congress stirred a lot of discontent in recent time, especially among the Congress activists who faced Left’s deadly wrath during latter’s regime. Dissent among a section of Leftists who became victims of Congress party’s revenge attacks during the Cong-TUJS period is still simmering.
Even as the historical blunder aspect is still blurred, CPM’s bossism is all exposed as the party leaders announced candidate list in Agartala on January 25 while Pradesh Congress Chief Birajit Sinha was away in New Delhi and reportedly holding consultations with CPM All India general secretary Sitaram Yechury on the seat sharing issue.
Congress leaders and supporters are reported to be shocked and they believe it inflicted humiliation upon the Congress as well as undermined the relevance of the party and State leaders among the electorates.
A look at some data will be helpful to understand reasons of Congress party’s unhappiness.
Lok Sabha election was the next major electoral exercise after Left Front was ousted in 2018 Assembly polls. Going by the records, Left Front – actually CPM – was in the third position in terms of the votes polled.
BJP polled 49 per cent votes and Congress secured 25 per cent votes whereas CPM managed to bag only 17 per cent votes.
Another interesting statistics reveals that BJP emerged in the top position in 51 Assembly constituencies out the total 60 seats in the Lok Sabha polls where as Congress captured the top position in nine Assembly seats – CPM failed to emerge on top in any of the 60 Assembly seats.
Despite such abysmal performance, Left Front – better to say CPM prefers to play the role of big brother and dictate the terms.
It is true that Congress barely has any organizational strength in Tripura. However, Congress expected a fair deal – at least sufficient number of seats – so that it could put a balm on the ‘against the alliance’ aggrieved supporters. In a sense, Left Front leaders have created a fissure in the newly formed alliance which may become another instance of historical blunder in coming days.
However, owing to political compulsions, it may be not be possible for the Congress to break the alliance. In such a situation, Congress may opt for fielding candidates in other seats and go for ‘understanding’ at the local level.