AGARTALA, July 22 (TIWN): Initially it looked that CPI-M might have taken the upper hand on IPFT's road and rail blockade issue as state BJP failed to protest against the IPFT's brain washed youths naked agitation. During this time State BJP observer Sunil Deodhar was outside the state . Once he returned the game suddenly changed dramatically and immediately he sent the CPI-M party and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar back foot warning ," If the state govt fails to stop the blockade within 48 hours , we will gherao CM's residence to make him feel how it looks to be kept confined in CM's official residence . " And soon after the ultimatum of 48 hours BJP leaders and karyakartasgheraoed CM's residence along with 7 other ministers almost throughout the day . This kind of movement from the opposition party is a rare event in Tripura as Manik Sarkar's has been successful to keep the opposition a mute spectators .

BJP's gherao of CM's residence caused so much tension and panic among CPI-M party and its leaders that CPI-M state committee has called a special two day long meeting to be held on 30th and 31st July . A highly placed TIWN sources in Melarmath said ," Party leaders will discus about the current political scenario in this meeting . At present the CPI-M party is facing tremendous pressure from BJP . And the two days long meeting will be crucial considering the upcoming Assembly poll. "

             Sources closed to Sunil Deodhar revealed TIWN on Friday evening ," During his stay in New Delhi Sunil Deodhar convinced the BJP Central leadership that if Home Minister Rajnath Singh or Kiran Rijiju meetswith the  IPFT delegates led by MewarDebbarma , it will send a bad message for Tripura . CPI-M already started campaigning that IPFT road blockade was instigated by the BJP leaders . Accordingly , BJP central leadership, especially Ram Madhav urged Rajnath Singh and Kiran Rijiju not to meet IPFT delegates . " As a result of it Centre took a bold decision and straightway asked IPFT to withdraw the blockade and refrained from any meeting .

         Getting the assurance Sunil Deodhar returned to Tripura and soon he held a press meet warning CM Manik Sarkar that BJP would gherao if state govt failed to remove the IPFT blockade within 48 hours . And after 48 hours BJP karyakartas and all top level leaders forced Manik Sarkar and 7 other ministers to remain confined in their official residences . Undoubtedly , CPI-M and even state intelligence failed to guess that BJP would have started the gherao from very early morning .

Indeed it was Sunil Deodhar's master stroke that sent the ruling party to back foot . At the same time Deodhar also succeeded to expose that the 10 days long blockade was purely a nexus between CPI-M and BJP . Even now common people are questioning the CPI-M leaders :-

1)Why did state govt give permission for such blockade ?

2)Why did administration allow the IPFT to continue the blockade for 10 days ?

3)Was the govt willing to give N C Debbarma& Co to carry on the movement simply to take political gains ?

4)Why did not CM Manik Sarkar utter single word for 8 days ?

5)Why did the state govt refrain from holding even a talk with agitated IPFT leaders ?

6)Was the blockade a planned one as IPFT officially announced about it more than 15 days before ?

7)Why did CM Manik come before the press urging the IPFT to stop blockade after being warned by BJP about gherao of CM's residence ?

Commenting on the recent political scenario a highly placed Melarmath leader (unwilling toreveal identity ) told TIWN ," The situation has radically changed during the last one year . Now the Rahul-Sitaram-Manik combination won't give any mileage to CPI-M as Congress is not in power . This time BJP is indeed serious to snatch the power from CPI-M . As such since 1998 this is probably the toughest time for CPI-M as far as its supremacy in Tripura is cincerned . "