AGARTALA, February 26 (TIWN): City life came to a standstill on wednesday due to mammoth rally organized by CPI(M) on the occasion of the 21st Tripura CPI (M) state conference at Swami Vivekananda (Astabal) Maidan. CPI(M) Party was desperate to show their political muscle due to nationwide decimation, but daily commuters were harassed as the rally choked parts of the city and its businesses. During a visit to the city, TIWN team found that the Old Motor Stand road, Battala, Paradise Chowmuhani, Colonel Chowmuhani and Radhanagar witnessed huge traffic jams due to the rally which was organized by CPI (M) leadershp to fill the Swami Vivekananda Maidan (Astabal Maidan).The office goers were seen waiting in long queues as they could hardly find any bus, mini passenger vehicles plying the roads.

 A limited number of rickshaws and CNG run auto rickshaws were plying but they were charging excessive fares by taking the advantage of the rally. Police and other law enforcement officials were busy protecting Ministers, VIPs in rally. CPI(M) party machinery and Govt headed by Manik Sarkar successfully held public life to ransom throughout wednesday. One of the daily commuters namely Rajesh Saha told TIWN that he was waiting for bus to reach Melagarh for some official work but no buses were available because most of the public buses were used today to take people from different parts of the city to the rally venue. This created a scarcity of buses, making commuters wait at bus stops for hours.     

Home-maker Ridhima Banerjee said due to the crisis of vehicles in the city she had to walk for nearly 3 km with her 6-year old child to return home from school. “How is this supposed to work out for us common people. One cannot hold public life to ransom like this”, she said.

A highly placed source of Melarmath said that the party has collected huge amount of money for the occasion of the 21st Tripura CPI (M) state conference.

A section of people said that from what reason the CPI (M) led state government is wasting huge amount of money by organizing these kinds of rallies. Instead of wasting the money by organizing rallies the CPI (M) need to use the money for the development of people of the state.

If CPIM wanted, these type of massive gatherings could be scheduled on Sundays to avoid disruption to public life.

Rs 51 crore MGNREGA scamster jailed BDO Bimal Chakraborty's brother SFI Secretary Amal Chakraborty was seen hobnobbing with Prakash Karat on wednesday.