ELECTION campaign for the CPI(M) candidates has gained momentum in both the  seats of Tripura despite the ruling party continuing its terror tactics.  CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and leader of opposition, Manik Sarkar, addressed two public meetings on April 1-2  in Sonamurra and Agartala in support of Sankar Prasad Datta.  Both the meetings were well attended.

ON March 27, Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India drawing his attention to the announcement made by prime minister through an address to the nation on the achievements of Indian scientists. Sitaram has written that the address is a violation of the model code of conduct. He has expressed his utmost displeasure and asked whether the election commission was informed of such an address.

AS will appear in the same issue separately, a delegation comprising of CPI(M) and CPI leadership met the  Election Commission of India on March 25. In their submission to the ECI the Left leaders have reiterated their apprehensions regarding a free and fair election in Tripura which is scheduled to be held in two phases on April 11 and 18. As we go to press the process of scrutiny and withdrawal of nomination papers for the West Tripura parliamentary constituency will be over.

Part I THE five years rule of the BJP government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been an unmitigated disaster for the country and the people.These elections are the most crucial in the history of independent India.  What is at stake is the very future of the secular democratic republic, as enshrined in our Constitution.  The future is at stake, because, the BJP-led NDA government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, promotes the unprecedented sharpening of communal polarisation severely disrupting the harmony of our rich, diverse social fabric.

THE Indian History Congress, the major forum of Indian historians since 1935, was due to meet for its 79th session at the invitation of Savitribai Phule University, Pune, on December 28-30, 2018. About 1,500 members had paid delegate fee of Rs 2000 each by December 1, the last day set for it. But on December 10, barely a fortnight before the session was to be held; the host university announced that they would not be able to hold the session.