The possibility of a Left-Congress alliance in the upcoming urban local body (ULB) elections in Tripura remains open, with a final decision expected within the next one or two days, CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chowdhury said on Saturday. He stated that opposition parties were discussing a possible seat-sharing arrangement to prevent anti-BJP votes from splitting across municipal constituencies.
Chowdhury expressed confidence that the parties could reach an understanding in several important towns before the November 10 nomination withdrawal deadline. He also alleged that candidates in some areas had faced obstruction while filing nomination papers and questioned the role of the Election Commission and sections of the police administration. Meanwhile, he appealed to opposition parties to unite against the BJP, describing the election as an important test for democracy in Tripura.
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Key Facts About the Tripura ULB Elections
- Political development: A possible Left-Congress alliance remains under discussion.
- Key leader: Jitendra Chowdhury, CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition.
- Election: Upcoming urban local body elections in Tripura.
- Alliance deadline: A final understanding may emerge within one or two days.
- Nomination withdrawal deadline: November 10 at 3 PM.
- Reported seat-sharing progress: Discussions have reportedly advanced in Teliamura, Panisagar and Sonamura.
- Main objective: Prevent the division of anti-BJP votes.
- Allegations: Chowdhury accused the ruling party of receiving support from sections of the administration during the nomination process.
Left-Congress Alliance Still Possible in Tripura
Speaking to media personnel on Saturday, Jitendra Chowdhury said opposition parties had not abandoned the possibility of forming an alliance for the upcoming municipal elections.
He explained that their immediate priority was to prevent anti-BJP votes from splitting among multiple candidates. According to him, a united opposition could improve the chances of defeating the BJP in several municipal constituencies.
Chowdhury said discussions with opposition parties were continuing and expressed hope that the negotiations would produce positive results before the nomination withdrawal deadline.
He added that the CPI(M) had supported the idea of a common candidate list from the beginning. The party believes that coordinated candidate selection would help opposition parties avoid unnecessary electoral competition among themselves.
Seat-Sharing Talks Progress in Several Municipal Towns
Chowdhury indicated that opposition parties had made progress in some municipal areas, including Teliamura, Panisagar and Sonamura.
However, several other towns were still waiting for a formal agreement. He said initial responses from opposition leaders had been encouraging, although discussions had not yet produced a final arrangement everywhere.
The CPI(M) state secretary also revealed that he had held discussions with leaders of major opposition parties outside the Left Front and CPI(M) on Friday.
According to Chowdhury, those leaders assured him that sincere efforts were underway to reach a common understanding.
He remained optimistic that the parties could settle their differences in several important constituencies within the available time.
Chowdhury Alleges Obstruction During Nomination Filing
The opposition leader also raised concerns about the nomination process. He alleged that candidates in five municipal towns, along with some other areas, had faced obstruction while attempting to submit their nomination papers.
Chowdhury accused the Election Commission and certain sections of the police administration of cooperating with the ruling party. He claimed that the nomination process had not remained fair in every location.
These allegations added another political dimension to the ongoing election preparations. However, his claims were not independently established in the statement.
Opposition Leader Attacks BJP Candidate Selection
Chowdhury also criticised the BJP’s selection of candidates for the municipal elections.
He alleged that some individuals who were involved in fraudulent voting and intimidation during the 2022 by-election, which facilitated Chief Minister Manik Saha’s entry into the Assembly, had now received BJP tickets.
He warned that allowing such individuals to control municipal bodies could worsen the situation in urban areas, particularly in the Agartala Municipal Corporation.
These remarks formed part of his wider criticism of the ruling party’s political record in the state.
Chowdhury Calls for a United Opposition
Referring to the political situation from Santirbazar to Dharmanagar, Chowdhury said people were increasingly demanding unity among opposition parties.
He argued that voters wanted an alternative to what he described as nine-and-a-half years of misrule and poor conditions in urban areas.
He also stressed that the proposed alliance was not simply about electoral gains for the CPI(M), Congress or any other opposition party.
“We are 100 per cent sincere about defeating the BJP,” Chowdhury asserted. He described the election as a struggle to protect democracy, preserve the state and oppose what he called authoritarianism.
Questions and Answers
Q1. Will the CPI(M) and Congress form an alliance for Tripura’s ULB elections?
The possibility remains open. Jitendra Chowdhury said a final decision could emerge within the next one or two days.
Q2. What is the main objective of the proposed alliance?
The opposition parties want to prevent anti-BJP votes from splitting among multiple candidates.
Q3. In which towns have alliance discussions reportedly progressed?
Chowdhury mentioned Teliamura, Panisagar and Sonamura as towns where discussions had advanced.
Q4. When is the deadline for withdrawing nominations?
The deadline is November 10 at 3 PM.
Q5. What allegations did Chowdhury raise about the nomination process?
He alleged that candidates in five municipal towns and some other areas had faced obstruction while filing nomination papers. He also questioned the role of the Election Commission and sections of the police administration.
Political Significance for Tripura
The upcoming urban local body elections will test the strength of political parties across Tripura, from southern towns such as Santirbazar to northern areas such as Dharmanagar. A possible Left-Congress understanding could reshape the contest in several municipalities by bringing opposition votes together. However, the final impact will depend on whether the parties can reach a seat-sharing agreement before the nomination withdrawal deadline.
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