By our correspondent
Agartala, April 8, 2019: It seems, not only political environment, nature is also not in favour of the Red Party. However, braving inclement weather, CPIM supporters rolled out in city streets and raised slogans in support of CPIM nominee Sankar Prasad Datta today. “Even though, it was a rainy Monday morning, CPIM top brass along with large number of CPIM activists – both men and women – took part in the rally today in Agartala and urged people to re-elect Sankar Prasad Datta”, Party sources said.
Poll campaigns of CPIM for both East and West Parliamentary Constituencies have come under several intimidation and assaults. CPIM nominees – Sankar Prasad Datta from the West and Jitendra Choudhury from the East had faced violent miscreants on multiple times, their vehicles were vandalized and security personnel had a tough time in rescuing the candidates unhurt. Even on Sunday, one of CPIM leaders was severely thrashed at Gandachhera under East Parliamentary constituency in Dhalai district of Tripura.
CPIM announced names of its nominees immediately after Poll date announcement – well before ruling BJP and a resurgent Congress announce their candidates. After Assembly drubbing followed by large scale erosion in support base due to multiple reasons including alleged intimation, CPIM is facing an uphill task in wooing voters. Moreover, sporadic attacks on it leaders have affected the campaign trails. Unlike Congress and BJP, the CPIM has very small number of ‘backroom warriors’. Apart from Official social media handlers, there is very little effort from its activists.
Analyzing campaign style of CPIM, Agartala based political analysts opined, basic socio-economic problems of the society remain, more-or-less, same but people’s conception and perception have changed significantly. And, it seems that CPIM leaders are yet to grasp fast changing choices of people, but stick more than decade-old campaign style. “Old is gold, but gold, overtime, has lost its shine – CPIM needs to understand, accept and remodel it’s functioning accordingly”, a veteran journalist commented.
