Agartala: Tripura Progressive Gramin Congress has disassociated itself from Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Friday ahead of Lok Sabha poll to be held on April 7 and 12 in two seats of Tripura.
The AITC has received a serious blow with the decision of Gramin Congress to take part independently in the election. Gramin Congress President Subal Bhowmik told media here that there is no difference between Congress and Trinamool. Both the parties have been functioning with the whims of the Chief of the parties where politics became immaterial.
Bhowmik, who had taken an active role in pre-poll rally of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Benerjee last week in Agartala, has become critique of the AITC and alleged that Ms Benerjee did not have courtesy to recognize the anti-left allies.
Day after the announcement of party candidates for Tripura by Benerjee, Bhowmik announced disassociation with AITC and said he would be contesting from West Tripura general constituency and for East Tripura constituency they are waiting for finalizing alliance with any tribal party.
Criticising Benarjee, Bhowmik alleged that for her maiden rally in Agartala on February 25, he had held 43 meetings across the state and brought people from other parts of the states by hiring 540 large vehicles but while addressing she did not even spell out his name or recognise his party.
“My tears busted when she had ignored me in public on stage and did not even utter anything about us despite our sincere effort to make an anti-left front (Mahajut) in Tripura in Lok Sabha poll,” Bhowmik rued.
He however, alleged that Banerjee failed to understand the support base of Gramin Congress and looking at the crowded rally in Agartala, she might have thought they won the people of Tripura by their leaders.
“Half of the people in the rally were brought by me and my associates and another half of the rest came to listen to her plan of action before shifting their allegiance towards AITC and only a few thousand AITC supporters were there,” Bhowmik claimed.
Suggesting Banerjee about her leaders in Tripura, Bhowmik said that Tripura is not West Bengal and people of Tripura are more sensitive and dedicated towards a cause. Unless, full-devotion and political honesty to the fellow citizens and parties, people will throw them away.
“I had decided to back Trinamool without any precondition and on February 13,14 I had consulted Mukul Roy in Kolkata and I was told that I will be called again for finalisation of the candidates for both the seats but they had resorted to political dishonesty,” Bhowmik said adding that childish acts of Benerjee is responsible for breakup of alliance.
He further alleged that Congress and CPI-M had intruded in Trinamool and AITC MLA Sabyasachi Dutta had also held meeting with Congress MLAs ahead of her meeting.
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues over the alliance of Tripura Pradesh Congress and it’s tribal ally Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) in upcoming Lok Sabha poll following non-enactment of autonomous district council (ADC) Bill in the parliament.
Angered over the non-enactment of the Bill, proposed to provide more power to ADCs for all-round development of tribal, INPT leaders indicated fissure in alliance.
INPT assistant general secretary and former Rajeshwar Debbarma said, “We will hold a top-level meeting of the party here on March 14 and the final decision of electoral alliance will be taken at the meeting.” However, Congress is not also able to finalise the candidates yet. (UNI)