Agartala, 26th October 2026 : Tripura Food Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has once again targeted Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury amid the ongoing controversy over the distribution of free sugar, flour and semolina during the Puja season. Accusing the opposition of spreading confusion over the government’s welfare initiative, the minister also alleged that the Leader of the Opposition was joining hands with the CJP at Jantar Mantar in Delhi as part of a conspiracy to weaken the country. Criticising the recent political positions taken by the Congress and the CPI(M), he claimed that opposition parties had no principles or ideology.
On Monday, Food Minister Sushanta Chowdhury reiterated the government’s position on the distribution of Puja ration items during a press conference at his office. Earlier, he held a virtual meeting with officials of the Food Department, during which the situation regarding the distribution of sugar, flour and semolina was reviewed with officials from all subdivisions. Subsequently, addressing the media, the minister launched a fresh attack on the CPI(M) and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury.
The minister alleged that the opposition was turning the issue into a political controversy with the intention of damaging the government’s image. He maintained that unnecessary confusion was being created over an initiative undertaken in the interest of ordinary people. He also questioned the political stance of the Leader of the Opposition, claiming that Jitendra Chaudhury was joining hands with the CJP at Jantar Mantar in Delhi as part of a conspiracy to weaken the country.
At the same time, referring to the alleged political understanding between the Congress and the CPI(M), the minister said that the CPI(M), which once shared a bitter relationship with the Congress, was now joining forces with the same party. According to him, opposition parties have no clear principles or ideology.
However, amid the minister’s political attacks, questions over public dissatisfaction with the distribution of Puja ration items continue to remain in focus. A few days before the beginning of the Sharad festival, the Food Minister himself had announced at a press conference that every ration cardholder in the state would receive one litre of mustard oil, one kilogram of sugar, two kilograms of flour and 500 grams of semolina free of cost. The initiative was announced with the stated objective of providing some financial relief to ordinary people during the Puja season.
However, mustard oil was subsequently dropped from the list of items announced by the government. Meanwhile, complaints emerged that many people had not received the remaining items during Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja. This has raised questions about the gap between the government’s announcement and the actual implementation of the scheme.
The controversy has intensified particularly in the context of Lakshmi Puja, which is celebrated in households across the state. Demand for sugar, flour and semolina naturally increases during the festival. However, as the promised government supplies failed to reach many beneficiaries on time, several families reportedly had to purchase sugar and other essential items from the open market at higher prices. This has led to growing resentment among sections of the public.
The opposition has alleged that people were deprived of the promised benefits because the government’s pre-Puja commitments were not implemented on time. The Food Minister, on the other hand, has accused the opposition of engaging in politically motivated propaganda over the issue. As a result, both administrative shortcomings in implementation and political confrontation have come under scrutiny in connection with a scheme announced in the public interest.
Meanwhile, many people are waiting for a clear assurance regarding the steps taken to address public grievances and when the remaining ration items will reach all eligible beneficiaries. Despite the ongoing political sparring, one fundamental question remains unanswered: Why did the free items announced ahead of the Puja fail to reach people on time?
Alongside promoting the government’s welfare initiatives and launching counterattacks against the opposition, providing a clear answer to this question has become an important responsibility for the Food Department. Ultimately, the timely delivery of promised benefits to consumers remains the principal measure of success for any public welfare scheme.
