Low attendance at first Congress poll rally in Agartala

The first election rally in Agartala of Tripura’s main opposition Congress on Thursday saw unprecedented law attendance of supporters and party workers. Even presence of firebrand leader Somen Mitra and his colleague Dr. Amjad Ali (both from West Bengal) failed to boost the party morale which is visibly in disarray over the rise of the Trinamool Congress in the opposition space in Tripura.

The picture was no different when Congress nominee from the West Tripura constituency Prof. Arunoday Saha filed his nomination in the afternoon. Only a few leaders, and not many supporters, followed him in sharp contrast to Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Trinamool Congress shows.

Show of unity

Despite faction-ridden leaders of the State Congress exhibiting a show of unity except former leader of opposition Ratan Lal Nath, party workers and supporters did not converge at the Vivekananda Stadium which is the unofficial venue of all political activities. Mr. Mitra and Dr. Amjad Ali were the key speakers at the rally called in the name of the Youth Congress.

Mr. Mitra spent much of his time criticising the Trinamool Congress, the party he recently deserted, indirectly hitting out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by describing her party as ‘individual-centric’.

Leader of Opposition Sudip Roy Burman and leaders of alliance partners INPT, NCT and PDS launched a scathing attack against the ruling CPI(M) and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

But at the end, Mr. Burmanappealed for ‘vivek’ (conscience) vote for the Congress to establish a secular and stable government at the Centre. He and fellow leaders sounded confident of a ‘UPA-III’ coming to power at the Centre.