BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 21st October 2025: Just days after Diwali celebrations concluded, the Pradesh Congress launched a scathing attack on the state’s ruling “triple-engine” government, accusing it of silently preparing to impose fresh financial burdens on ordinary citizens through another round of electricity tariff hikes.
In a press communiqué issued today, PCC spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty alleged that the state’s power corporation under the stewardship of a minister known more for rhetoric than reform has become a hub of corruption, nepotism and wasteful expenditure. The Congress claimed that unqualified appointments to key regulatory bodies, unnecessary foreign trips, and inflated operational costs have pushed the corporation to the bottom of national performance rankings.
To divert public attention from these alleged failures, the government has been steadily increasing electricity charges under the guise of maintaining supply. According to the Chakraborty, the latest hike on May 27 exceeded 7%, and when combined with hidden charges and the controversial rollout of smart meters, has led to monthly bills rising by Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 for average households. The party estimates that the cumulative impact over the past year amounts to a 15% increase in electricity costs.
The Congress further criticized the government’s recent recommendation to the regulatory commission for another tariff hike, citing fluctuations in the national power grid prices. “The national grid is managed by the central government, which is your own party. You promised that a unified government at the Centre and state would ensure seamless development funding. So why are citizens being made to bear the cost?” the statement read.
The party also questioned the sincerity of the upcoming public hearing scheduled for October 29, announced via a regulatory notification on October 15. It reiterated its longstanding opposition to the smart meter initiative, alleging that it is part of a broader central government agenda to privatize the power sector and make electricity unaffordable for the masses.
Calling the proposed hike unjustified, Chakraborty demanded its immediate withdrawal and urged the government to halt the smart meter project. It also called for a thorough investigation into alleged corruption within the Power Corporation and strict action against those responsible.
Finally, the party appealed to electricity consumers across the state to unite in protest against what it described as “Tughlaqi” measures that are bleeding the public dry.
