Agartala, April 03, 2026: Tripura SC Welfare Minister Sudhangshu Das on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Communists and their leadership while campaigning for the April 09 by-election to the Dharmanagar, asserting that the contest is not merely for a vacant seat but a battle between opposing political ideologies.

Addressing party workers and supporters at Nayapara Motorstand, Dharmanagar, Das, who is also BJP in-charge for the 56-Dharmanagar Assembly by-election said the by-election became necessary following the death of former MLA and Speaker Biswabandhu Sen.

He said the people of Dharmanagar remain saddened by Sen’s demise and that the by-election has been necessitated solely to fill the vacant seat rather than determine government formation.

“The BJP has nominated Jahar Chakraborty, a dedicated party worker who has strengthened the organisation in the constituency while carrying forward the ideals of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. By nominating him, the party has honoured a deserving grassroots activist,” Das said.

Claiming strong public support for the BJP candidate, he said the party expects a decisive victory and predicted that opposition candidates would lose their security deposits when results are declared on May 04.

“We are holding extensive public outreach, and there is no doubt Jahar Chakraborty will win by a huge margin. Booth-level workers are engaged in healthy competition to ensure the highest lead for our candidate,” he said.

Das described the by-election as “an election of principles” rather than a contest against individuals, alleging that opposition parties, particularly the Communists, represent an ideology opposed to nationalism.

Without naming specific parties initially, he said those on the opposing side refuse to identify with slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram,” and alleged that Communist ideology draws inspiration from foreign revolutionary traditions rather than India’s cultural heritage.

In a strong attack on Left leaders, Das alleged that Communist politics has historically promoted Maoism, Naxalism and other extremist tendencies, while distancing itself from India’s own civilizational and cultural traditions.

He further claimed that Communist leaders disregard national icons such as Swami Vivekananda, Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore, while glorifying foreign ideological figures including Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.

Referring to the Centre’s anti-Maoist operations, Das said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the government has launched a determined campaign to eliminate Maoist influence from the country.

He also criticised senior CPI(M) leaders including Jitendra Chaudhury and Manik Sarkar, alleging that they have spoken in defence of Maoist ideology and have politically supported forces that, according to him, obstructed development among tribal communities.

Das claimed that voters in Dharmanagar are prepared to deliver what he termed a historic verdict in favour of the BJP, making the by-election one of the most significant electoral victories in the state’s by-election history.