In his dual role as Tripura's Leader of Opposition and CPI(M) state secretary, Jitendra Chaudhury is on a mission to rebuild the party's organisational strength in the northeastern state. Speaking to THE WEEK at the venue of CPI(M)'s 24th Party Congress—held under the banner "Socialism Is the Alternative"—Chaudhury asserts that the mass mobilisation leading up to the event has reaffirmed his comrades' resolve to restore not just CPI(M)'s foundational strength but also its electoral presence in Tripura. Edited excerpts:
Q/ Tripura has long been a stronghold of the CPI(M), but you lost power in 2018 and have since faced a series of electoral setbacks. How do you plan to rebuild the party’s strength in Tripura, and how crucial will the Madurai Party Congress be in this effort?
A/ Tripura has traditionally been a stronghold of the CPI(M). However, if you look at the manipulated results of the recent elections, you would naturally feel frustrated. The 2018 election was something different, that was totally hijacked by RSS- BJP to dislodge a Left-ruled state led by CPI(M) by the use of its all might that is, false promises, money power, misusing the Union government's machinery and chauvinistic politics nurtured by local tribal groups in the of Tipraland a separate state. But the elections since then have been entirely different. Every election after 2018 has been marred by manipulation—driven by "dalalism" (brokerage politics), interference from the Election Commission of India (ECI), government machinery, hired goons, and black money. Elections in Tripura are no longer democratic, fair and peaceful; they have become mere formalities and mockery to our democracy. The party is actively working to reclaim Tripura from the RSS-BJP. The nation, and the rest of the country, are watching not just for CPI(M)'s inherent strength and its commitments to our republic but also for its electoral resurgence. A key question is how to counter the BJP’s money power, muscle power, and use of religion and black money in elections. To achieve this, significant organisational reinforcement is required. We are planning and preparing for this. The mass mobilisation leading up to the Party Congress has demonstrated that people are determined to re-establish not just CPI(M)'s inherent strength but also its electoral presence. The outcome of this Party Congress will play a crucial role in reinvigorating our strength, morale, and strategy moving forward.
Q/ This Party Congress will also determine how you engage with other parties, particularly those opposing the BJP. When discussing alliances, the question of your relationship with Congress naturally arises. From both a Tripura perspective and at a national level, what kind of relationship would arise from now on?
A/ Our Party Congress resolution makes it clear that, at the national level, we are committed to uniting all secular and democratic forces, with Congress being an important part of that endeavour. However, at the state level, strategies will be state-specific. In Tripura, we joined forces in the 2023 elections, and again for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The approach for the 2028 elections will depend on the evolving political situation and the willingness of other parties to collaborate. While there hasn’t been a formal joint agitation outside the assembly, we continue to echo each other's concerns and fight against the BJP on key issues of restoration of democracy and rule of law in the state. Future electoral understandings will be shaped by the situation as it unfolds.
Q/ Kerala is one state where CPI(M) remains in power, but the state secretary recently stated that party policy and government policy may not always align, given that governance operates within a bourgeois system. When you come to power—especially considering your long tenure in Tripura—what kinds of restrictions or limitations do you face in implementing your socialist line?
A/ A government takes oath in the name of the Constitution. I do not know in what context Kerala state secretary said it. We believe in socialism. While socialism is mentioned in the Constitution’s preamble, the programmes implemented by governments—regardless of the ruling party—operate within certain constraints. In Kerala, the LDF government works within these limitations. While it may not be executing a purely socialist agenda, it is certainly advancing a progressive agendas with a Leftist orientation.
Q/ Tripura has a rising drug problem.
A/ Tripura has become drug corridor. Maybe compared to our size, Tripura is the number one in the country [in terms of the drug menace]. And we say it is not an accident. This is one of the agendas of the BJP. To spoil the youth.