Tripura: TPCC internal polls after 19 years as Cong aims at ‘total reboot’

Agartala: After a hiatus of 19 years, Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) is set to go for internal elections this year. The whole election process is expected to end by September.

Until now, leaders holding various significant posts were appointed by the AICC. 

Senior Congress leader Abdul Hannan, who has been entrusted with the task to conduct the polls, chaired a meeting of Congress leaders on Tuesday.

He said, “The polls will be held till the booth level and this is why efforts are being undertaken to train the district and block-level returning officers for smooth and effective conduct of the polls.” 

The AICC has decided to hold elections across the country to bring big bang reforms in the party with an aim of total reboot, said Hannan.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, sources in Tripura Pradesh Congress said, “These elections are crucial as after almost 19 years, the Pradesh Congress Committee has decided to hold elections in different levels of the organization.”

In 2003, an elected Congress Committee was formed after Birajit Sinha, who is the present TPCC president, defeated former Chief Minister Samir Ranjan Barman for the post of president. The elections were conducted at Agartala Town Hall and counting of the ballots was done at New Delhi. Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyer was the election in-charge for the party, a senior Congress leader said.

Party sources said the Congress party’s decision to hold elections would be a tough task after the party’s dismal performance in the membership drive.

Apart from former Tripura Pradesh Youth Congress President Sushanta Chakraborty and Unakoti district Congress President Md. Barujjaman, none of the leaders could make any visible progress in their areas. It seems even if the elections are conducted, sitting PCC President Birajit Sinha would easily sail through as both the leaders are very close to him, the sources added.

Sources said former MLA Asish Saha may also contest the polls for the post of president. The elections will be held at the grassroot level for the two most important posts—PCC President and AICC member. Both the posts have almost equivalent powers as AICC members usually act as a connecting point between AICC and TPCC, while the PCC president enjoys the liberty to take all the important decisions. 

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