In a surprising turn of events, Congress and BJP have come together to form a Panchayat in Bhagaban Nagar under the Gournagar Block in Kailashahar of Tripura.

This unexpected alliance has raised eyebrows and stirred political discussions, as the two bitter rival parties united to prevent CPIM from securing control in the Panchayat.

The Election Outcome and Unlikely Coalition

The recently concluded three-tier Panchayat elections in Bhagaban Nagar Gram Panchayat, consisting of 11 seats, saw five CPIM members, three Congress members, and three BJP members emerging victorious.

Before the elections, Gournagar Block witnessed several instances of alliances between Congress and CPIM, where they jointly fielded candidates against BJP.

However, in Bhagaban Nagar, no such alliance took place earlier. Both Congress and CPIM contested independently, putting up candidates in all the seats.

As the votes were counted, none of the three parties managed to secure a majority, creating a deadlock situation.

Political observers anticipated a post-election alliance between Congress and CPIM to form the Panchayat, especially given their previous cooperation in other Gram Panchayats.

Talks were held between the two parties, and it seemed that a joint governance plan was on the horizon.

The Twist at the Oath-Taking Ceremony

However, the political landscape shifted dramatically during the oath-taking ceremony held on August 28 at the Bhagaban Nagar Gram Panchayat office.

Under tight security, all 11 elected members took their oaths, setting the stage for the selection of Pradhan and Upa-Pradhan of the Panchayat.

As CPIM proposed their elected member Farida Begum for the Pradhan position, BJP shocked the gathered audience by nominating Congress’s elected member Nehar Begum instead.

In a stunning development, Nehar Begum was elected as the Pradhan with BJP’s support, while BJP’s Prasenjit Malakar was chosen as the Upa-Pradhan. 

The Congress-BJP coalition sidelined CPIM despite their superior numbers.

CPIM’s Reaction and Accusations of Betrayal

The outcome triggered a wave of anger and disappointment within CPIM. With five members, CPIM had expected Congress’s support to secure the Panchayat leadership.

However, Congress members went against their party whip, choosing instead to align with BJP.

CPIM member Bijoy Das, visibly frustrated, accused Congress of betrayal, saying, “Congress members have defied their party directive and sided with the BJP. This is nothing short of treachery against the alliance talks that were held.”

BJP’s Justification and Vision for the Panchayat

On the other hand, BJP leader and senior advocate from Unakoti District, Sandeep Debroy, defended the Congress-BJP alliance.

Standing alongside the newly elected Pradhan Nehar Begum and Upa-Pradhan Prasenjit Malakar, Debroy said, “This alliance was forged in response to the demands of the villagers and to uphold their interests. CPIM has always been an anti-national force, and our collaboration with Congress members aims to protect the people from their influence.”

He assured that the newly formed Panchayat would be corruption-free and committed to the welfare of the common people.