Tripura (Agartala): Former Trinamool Congress President and present BJP MLA Ratan Chakraborty claimed that the Trinamool Congress just wanted to hold its national party tag, and that is why the party is trying to foray into Tripura. "They need six percent votes to ensure their national party status. This is why the TMC is so desperate about Tripura", said Chakraborty. The BJP legislator who is among the few leaders who had witnessed TMC's genesis in Tripura, observed that the state's soil does not allow such forces to grow stronger. He had made the remarks in the wake of TMC Bengal leaders Malay Ghatak, Bratya Basu and Ritabrata Banerjee having arrived in Tripura from Kolkata on Wednesday to support the IPAC team.
"Trinamool has tried to gain momentum in Tripura earlier also. I along with late Sudhir Ranjan Majumdar had first approached the Trinamool Congress leadership. But, I was disappointed by the role of the party’s central leadership. I contested a by-election on the Trinamool ticket. When my victory was assured, TMC betrayed me. They issued leaflets denying my affiliation with the party and no central leader came forward to help. Those who have come here to revive the party must understand one thing that Tripura’s soil is not for them and people can’t be manipulated all the time," Chakraborty added.
He also lashed out at the TMC on its new stand of opening channels of dialogues with the Left that paved the way for a new political chemistry between the Left and the Trinamool Congress.
"On July 21, the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had delivered a fiery speech. She said many things fit for her political overtures but missed a lot. She restrained herself from speaking anything against the CPIM—the party that was responsible for the bloodletting clashes. This is, perhaps, because of the new realignment chemistry and this may also be the reason behind Trinamool’s expedition to Tripura. But, frankly speaking those good old days are gone," said Chakraborty adding that people of Tripura witnessed real development under the BJP era and that people belonging to all classes including the tribals are given respect.
"This is a pure welfare state. Without any movement, agitation or demand, services are being provided at people's doorstep and the tribals are getting ample respect. Pioneer of new Tripura, Maharaja Bir Bikram whose efforts were never recognized by the previous government, is being given the highest respect with a holiday announced on his birth anniversary", added Chakraborty.