Agartala, April 23, 2025: Tripura’s former Chief Minister and CPIM Politburo member Manik Sarkar on Tuesday emphasized the urgent need for a broader united platform to counter what he described as the growing fear among the ruling elites, exploiters and enemies of the people.
Speaking at a discussion programme held at Agartala Town Hall on the occasion of the 156th birth anniversary of revolutionary icon Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, Sarkar said the current political scenario has been shaped by the actions of the ruling class itself.
“The situation in the country is changing. The rulers, the exploiters, and the enemies of the people have started getting scared. This atmosphere has been created by none other than their own actions,” Sarkar asserted, calling for a larger coalition of like-minded forces that genuinely care for the common people.
Paying floral tribute to Lenin’s symbol at the beginning of the meeting, Sarkar acknowledged the limitations of the party’s current strength. “The party is not in a position to fight alone right now. Except for Tripura, the Left has almost no foothold in the northeastern region. Assam, for example, lacks the capacity for a mass movement at this moment,” he said.
He stressed the need to abandon opportunistic politics and focus on a broader ideological struggle. “If we remain occupied with thoughts about who will contest in 2028 or who will hold leadership positions, we are practicing opportunism. This cannot be our priority. Our fight is against the RSS-backed BJP — the real enemy of the people — and that fight must begin now,” Sarkar urged party cadres.
He also called for including individuals with a strong presence in public life and a record of resistance into leadership roles within the party. “Our first task should be to identify such individuals and bring them into the leadership fold,” he added.
Lambasting the BJP, Sarkar accused the ruling party of turning Tripura into a “laboratory” to undermine democratic structures. “The BJP is using Tripura to experiment with constitutional changes, law and order suppression, and the erosion of secularism. If they succeed here, they will replicate this across the country,” he warned.
Highlighting economic woes, Sarkar stated, “The country is facing an industrial and economic crisis, and the living standards of ordinary citizens have deteriorated. There’s no alternative but to intensify class and mass movements.”
Acknowledging concerns about youth participation, he said, “Yes, people ask why the youth are not coming forward. But in today’s climate, we have failed to offer them a slogan or a direction that inspires them. That must change.”
Sarkar concluded by stressing the importance of building a broad-based front without compromising ideological values. “To combat the oppression of this era, we must create a larger platform rooted in our principles and ideals. There is no other way.”
The event was also attended by senior leaders including CPIM Politburo member and state’s leader of opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, former MP Shankar Prasad Datta and former minister Aghore Debbarma.
