The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in Tripura on Saturday clarified that its move to make Manik Sarkar its chief ministerial face in the 2018 Assembly elections does not contradict any resolution of the party’s Central committee that prevents its members from holding legislative positions for successive terms. Sources said it was only maintaining an embargo as far as the Rajya Sabha was concerned, where no member has been given a third term in the Upper House since the party was founded in 1964.
“The party is unanimous in projecting Manik Sarkar as the next Chief Minister. We are very confident about winning the Assembly elections and forming a Left Front government in Tripura,” CPI(M) State Secretary Bijan Dhar told reporters.
The party decided to count on him taking into consideration the successes left front governments achieved under his leadership, he added.