Agartala, March 13, 2026: Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman has sharply criticised the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) for announcing its candidate for the upcoming by-election in the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency without consulting the Congress, alleging a lack of sincerity in the party’s efforts to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In a reaction issued on Friday, Roy Barman expressed strong indignation and surprise over what he termed the CPI(M)’s premature decision to field a candidate for the by-poll. He also demanded that the party withdraw its nominee in the broader interest of opposition unity.

The Congress leader recalled that during the previous by-elections in the Boxanagar and Dhanpur Assembly constituencies, the Congress had refrained from contesting to prevent a split in anti-BJP votes and to strengthen the chances of defeating the BJP. However, the CPI(M) had still fielded its own candidates in those elections.

Roy Barman said that ahead of the Dharmanagar by-poll, the CPI(M) had once again announced its candidate without any form of discussion or coordination with the Congress, which he described as undesirable.

He stressed that if the objective is to effectively challenge the BJP, opposition parties must maintain mutual understanding and coordination. According to him, if the CPI(M) is genuinely committed to defeating the BJP, it should withdraw its candidate from the Dharmanagar by-election and ensure greater unity among opposition forces.

Otherwise, he warned, the division of opposition votes could ultimately benefit the BJP.