AGARTALA: Congress in Tripura, relegated to near-oblivion, on Wednesday received a shot in the arm with 200 CPM supporters from Kamalasagar and Suryamaninagar constituencies of West Tripura joining the party.Birajit Sinha, president of the state unit of Congress, welcomed them in a simple affair at Congress Bhavan here. "Congress is all set to emerge as the strongest political force in the country before the 2019 Lok Sabha election. BJP has already received a serious setback in the recently held Karnataka assembly election and various byelections because of its undemocratic communal politics," Sinha said. He added, "People of the country will not allow them to be in power any more. Congress is already a challenger to Modi and BJP will get a lesson in the next election."The conflict between the ruling partners, BJP and IPFT, Sinha said, has led to tension in mixed-population areas. "It is not just opposition supporters who are coming under attack. Workers of BJP and IPFT are assaulting each other," he added.The state Congress president said tension has been rising in Birchandra Manu of south Tripura since a clash between BJP and IPFT workers over the "capture" of Uttar Takma village under the autonomous district council on Tuesday night. IPFT workers of the village reportedly objected to members of the village committee wanting to join BJP.Police said heated exchanges turned into open clashes, leaving one IPFT worker injured. The worker is now undergoing treatment at the Agartala Government Medical College."The government has failed to restore peace and ensure better coordination among coalition partners and cabinet colleagues, which has turned out to be the biggest hindrance to development," Sinha said.

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