AGARTALA, Feb 4? As expected People?s Democratic Front, a political party formed by former CPM leaders who decided to extend support to the ruling Left Front like the previous years, in the Assembly polls. At the initial stage the PDF also held discussions on the joining the Left Front and sought a share of seats in the Assembly polls. The Left Front did not concede the demand and asked the PDF to support their candidates. As their demand was rejected outright the PDF ten toyed with the idea of fielding their own candidates in at least two constituencies. But at last keeping in mind its own poor political base and ?the emerging threat from the fascist Congress-INPT alliance? the party felt it prudent to support the Left Front, instead as ?best alternative available.?
At a press conference on Monday PDF leaders Nakul Das and Dhiraj Guha said, the state was passing through a crucial period as ?a national party like Congress joined hands with banned NLFT militants? political organisation, INPT?. Coming down heavily on INPT president Bijoy Hrangkhawl, they said, he had masterminded killings of several hundred innocent people in the eighties in Tripura, but till date never uttered a single word of regret even after his surrender. Instead, Hrangkhawl attempted to justify the militant organisations and virtually advocated ?sovereignty? of Tripura in Geneva before an international gathering in July last. ?This is a dangerous trend and must be countered right at this moment,? said the PDF leaders.
They also made a scathing attack on the ruling Left Front for its ?total dependence? on bureaucracy, corruption at political and administrative level, intolerance and arrogance of the Front functionaries.
?The Left Front also failed to live up to the people?s expectations and protect the life and properties in the state. But since it is the best alternative available at this juncture, we decided to extend support to the Left Front in the next Assembly elections,? they said and added that what was important at present was to prevent Congress-INPT alliance from coming to power through split in the Left votes. It may be mentioned her that the PDF was formed by some Marxists intellectuals who had sharp difference of opinions with the then Left Front Chief Minister and politburo member of the CPM Nripen Chakrabarty.