Agartala, 7th November 2026 : With the urban local body elections approaching, efforts to forge a broader opposition understanding against the BJP are still underway, and the possibility of a Left-Congress alliance remains open, CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said on Saturday. He indicated that a final decision could emerge by Sunday or Monday.
Speaking to the media, Chaudhury said preventing the division of anti-BJP votes was now the foremost concern of the opposition. He maintained that the CPI(M) had consistently favoured a common platform and a unified panel of candidates to challenge the ruling party.
Claiming that the nomination process had been obstructed in five municipal towns and possibly some other places, Chaudhury alleged that the Election Commission and certain sections of the police had acted in favour of the ruling party. He said the opposition had received repeated appeals from people across the state, from Santirbazar to Dharmanagar, seeking a change in the existing political situation.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP’s candidate selection, the CPI(M) leader alleged that some of its nominees had earlier been involved in fraudulent voting and intimidation during the 2022 by-election through which Chief Minister Manik Saha entered the Assembly. He cautioned that allowing such individuals to control municipal institutions could further undermine democratic functioning and affect the social, cultural and economic life of urban residents.
Chaudhury said opposition coordination had made some progress, with understandings reportedly reached in Teliamura, Panisagar and Sonamura. However, several other municipal areas were still awaiting a formal agreement despite positive signals from different opposition parties.
He disclosed that he had spoken with leaders of major opposition parties outside the Left Front and CPI(M) on Friday and was informed that serious discussions were continuing. With the nomination withdrawal deadline approaching on November 10 at 3 PM, he expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached in several important constituencies.
Emphasising that the opposition’s objective went beyond electoral gains for any particular party, Chaudhury said the larger battle was to protect democracy, safeguard the state and resist authoritarianism. He reiterated that the CPI(M) was fully committed to ensuring the BJP’s defeat through opposition unity.
