'Manik Sarkar may have been able to hang on if he hadn't been a follower of the CPI-M's all-time hardliner Prakash Karat,' argues Amulya Ganguli.
Overcoming insurgency through development in Tripura secures CM Sarkar's re-election, says Aditi Phadnis
A Communist Party of India-Marxist-led Left Front government headed by Manik Sarkar assumed office for the fourth consecutive term in Tripura on Monday. Sarkar was sworn in as the chief minister for the fourth time along with 11 ministerial colleagues by Governor Dinesh Nandan Sahaya.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurav Das were released after preventive arrest following their detention at the Delhi airport, on the condition that they would not 'breach peace' for a year.
Several prominent INDIA bloc leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee, were detained by Delhi Police on Saturday while attempting to protest at Jantar Mantar. They were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, with leaders condemning the detentions as an attack on democracy.
A network of volunteers, including doctors, lawyers, and social media influencers, has mobilised in Delhi to provide medical assistance, legal aid, and mental health support to thousands of protesters detained during the recent CJP agitation. The initiative includes transport for released detainees, first aid, and therapist connections.
According to the chief minister, the common man, small traders and daily labourers are the worst sufferers of the demonetisation scheme.
Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticised the Centre for the security clampdown in central Delhi against the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest, calling it "worse than Emergency" and alleging dictatorship. He also accused Prime Minister Modi of being scared and protecting "vote chori" by crushing democracy, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Supreme Court has granted the Centre an extension until October 15 to file its response on petitions concerning the closure of metro stations and disruption of train services in Delhi during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The court also deferred a crucial hearing, issued notice on a petition challenging the immunity of election commissioners, and sought a Delhi Police officer's presence regarding alleged assaults on women journalists. Earlier, the court had directed authorities to ensure normal public transport and prevent unlawful detentions.
Tripura's popular chief minister shows up the failures of the elitist central leadership of India's Left, says Devesh Kapur
Delhi Police launched a massive crackdown to prevent a protest against the Chief Election Commissioner at Jantar Mantar, detaining CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, and nearly 500 others. The city was turned into a fortress with extensive security, metro closures, and barricades. Opposition parties, including AAP and Congress, condemned the actions, calling the situation "worse than the Emergency."
Several protesters, including CPI(M) MP John Brittas, were detained in Delhi as the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation entered its second day on Sunday. Protesters alleged manhandling by security personnel, while police maintained extensive security arrangements, detaining thousands over the weekend.
Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), including Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have vowed to escalate their agitation against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, expanding protests nationwide after their release from detention. They allege an "emergency-like situation" created by the Modi government, illegal detentions, and harassment of protesters, drawing parallels to the 1975 Emergency. The CJP is protesting alleged irregularities in voter rolls and demanding Kumar's resignation, accusing authorities of suppressing dissent.
Delhi Police launched a massive crackdown, detaining Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, and nearly 500 protesters who attempted to reach Jantar Mantar for a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Opposition, including AAP and Congress, denounced the situation as 'worse than the Emergency'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated senior BJP worker Makhanlal Sarkar at a swearing-in ceremony in West Bengal. Sarkar, 98, is an early grassroots figure associated with the nationalist movement. Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the state's first BJP Chief Minister after defeating Mamata Banerjee.
Tripura's outgoing chief minister Manik Sarkar will be shifting to his new residence - the Communist Party of India-Marxist's state committee office.
'Hira' means, he said, "H for highway, I for Internet way, R for roadways and A for airways".
Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Bihar's Chief Minister for a record 10th time, extending his tenure and joining the list of longest-serving CMs in India.
Former Tripura chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Biplab Kumar Deb is congratulated by BJP national Spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra on being elected to the Rajya Sabha in Agartala.
In Tripura, the challenge for the chief minister is less from the alliance partners and more from his own party, the BJP.
Ten individuals have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu youth, in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
M A Baby faces several significant challenges: Helping the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front secure a third consecutive term in Kerala's 2026 assembly elections, and regaining ground lost in the party's traditional strongholds of West Bengal, Tripura, and other regions.
Andhra Pradesh's Chandrababu Naidu has emerged as the wealthiest chief minister with declared assets worth over Rs 177 crore, followed by Arunanchal Pradesh's Pema Khandu (over Rs 129 crore) and Amarinder Singh of Punjab (over Rs 48 crore).
The main contest is between the CPI-M and the BJP in the February 18 assembly polls for 60 seats.
The Election Commission on Tuesday cautioned Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar against misuse of official machinery for political purposes in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Sarkar, who is also the home minister of the state, said his government was keeping a close surveillance on the functioning of the chit funds in the state and had enacted a rule for protection of the depositors.
The 24th CPI(M) Party Congress commenced in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, with interim coordinator Prakash Karat emphasizing the need for Left unity to combat "Hindutva neo-fascism." He criticized the BJP-RSS government, accusing it of representing a "Hindutva-corporate nexus" and displaying "neo-fascist characteristics." Other Left leaders, including CPI general secretary D Raja and CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, echoed calls for unity and condemned the current political climate in India.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Wednesday termed the United Progressive Alliance's publication of its performance, 'The Report to the People,' as a "report card of failure."
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar can arguably be dubbed 'the cleanest and poorest' chief minister in the country with personal property, movable and immovable, valued at less than Rs 2.5 lakh.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar can arguably be dubbed 'the cleanest and poorest' chief minister in the country with personal property, movable and immovable, valued at less than Rs 2.5 lakh.
Most chief ministers chose to miss a high-level conference, convened to thrash out challenging issues on public order and policing, with only seven state leaders attending it.
Union Surface Communication Minister B C Khandoori and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar would visit Dhaka for the inauguration of the service.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has asked the Centre to seal off the porous Indo-Bangla border to prevent infiltration by militants from Bangladesh. More than 100 camps of North East-based militants, including the United Liberation Front of Asom, National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Issac-Muivah) among others are operating within Bangladesh. India shares a 4,095 km-long border with Bangladesh, including the longest in West Bengal at 2,216-km, part of which is porous.
The Communist Party of India Marxist-led ruling Left Front seems confident about retaining power in the poll-bound state of Tripura. The north-eastern state, which will go to polls on Thursday, is the only state ruled by the Left Front now.
With the Tripura assembly polls hardly a fortnight away, both the ruling Left Front and opposition Congress are holding a series of meetings to woo the voters.
Statistics from the Association for Democratic Reforms analysis of the newly-elected legislative assemblies in Nagaland and Tripura indicate that there are 36 and 8 crorepatis respectively in both the Houses. Vicky Nanjappa reports:
While Left Front constituents maintain that they could not find adequate number of 'well-qualified' women candidates to be fielded in the election while the main opposition Congress maintains that there were few candidates with 'winnability factor' among party's women aspirants
The army has expressed 'serious' concern over the assault and public humiliation of a senior ranking officer of the army in Agartala recently allegedly by sons of a former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and has sought urgent action against the culprits.
The Centre is likely to call a meeting of chief ministers on April 16 for discussion on the functioning of the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre, a top official said here on Friday.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Wednesday congratulated Somdev Devvarman for winning gold medal for India in the Asian Games.
