Thaindian News

Agartala, Aug 20 (IANS) The Trinamool Congress Saturday launched its “Mission 2013″ - to oust the Left Front from power in Tripura - at a mass meeting here.

Addressing the gathering, Trinamool general secretary and Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy said: “Like Paschimbanga (the new name decided for West Bengal Friday), the people of Tripura would throw out the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist)-led Left Front from the helm of affairs.”

“The Left parties in Tripura are also sunk in corruption, misrule and huge non-performance. People of the state like Paschimbanga are equally fed up with the Communist parties,” said Roy, accompanied by several other Trinamool Congress leaders from West Bengal.

Saturday’s gathering in the Left-ruled Tripura was the first public meeting by the Trinamool, after it, in alliance with the Congress, crushed the Left Front led by CPI-M in the West Bengal assembly elections, ending its 34-year long rule.

Political observers feel that Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is now trying to vanquish the Left Front’s last stronghold Tripura, by launching an “unrelenting anti-Left campaign” with an eye to the 2013 assembly elections.

The CPM-led Left Front has been in power in the northeastern state since 1993, winning four assembly elections in a row.

Though the Trinamool Congress is yet to open its account in the 60-member assembly or any other elected bodies in the state, it is quite confident of its chances.

“The Congress would not be able to vote out the Left Front as it has no such political and mental strength,” Roy said

“Trinamool Congress is ready to forge alliance with the Congress and any other like-minded parties as our main aim is to oust the CPI-M from Tripura. If needed, we would also form coalition with the regional and tribal-based parties of Tripura,” he added.

The CPI-M was dismissive of the Trinamool’s venture.

“The party has no strength in the state. Some Congress men joined the party. They can perceive such dreams only,” party state secretary Bijon Dhar told reporters here.

The Congress has also categorised the Trinamool Congress as “an insignificant party in Tripura”.

“We have not yet decided to forge any alliance with the Trinamool Congress because the party has no political base in Tripura. We on our own strength would oust the Left Front from power in the state in the 2013 assembly polls,” said state unit chief Surajit Datta.