Summary:
AGARTALA: Amid speculation that former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar may become the next CPM general secretary, the highest post in the party organization, CPM Tripura secretary Bijan Dhar played it down as "rumour and anticipation". "The party congress will continue till Sunday, so the general secretary will not be elected before the last session. said Dhar, who is also attending the 22nd party congress in Hyderabad.The party has been reported to be facing a turf war, with supporters of present general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Sarkar on opposing sides. Before discussions take place, how can anything be decided?" Yechury's proposal to consider a broad alliance of secular parties, including Congress, to take on BJP had led to factional sentiments within the party and given a boost to the Sarkar camp.Forty-five party delegates and three visitors from the state are in Hyderabad now, including Sarkar, all members of the party central committee and some senior leaders of the Tripura unit..