Manik Dey re-elected as CITU state president, Sankar Prasad Datta as general secretary

The two-day 16th State Conference of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) concluded on Tuesday evening in Agartala with the election of a 137-member General Council. Former minister Manik Dey was re-elected as the State President, while former MP Sankar Prasad Datta was re-elected as the General Secretary of the trade union.

The conference followed a massive rally held at Orient Chowmuhani in Agartala on Monday, which the organizers described as the biggest political rally of 2025 in the state.

Addressing a press conference at the CITU state office on Tuesday evening, the newly elected president and general secretary, along with vice president Amitabha Datta, said that despite large-scale threats, intimidation, and obstructions, around 25,000 to 26,000 workers from different parts of Tripura took part in the rally.

Sankar Prasad Datta alleged that the ruling BJP had used all possible tactics to obstruct the CITU rally and restrict the movement of participants across the state.

“Monday’s massive rally, despite numerous hindrances, clearly reflects that the people of the state are now ready to challenge the anti-people BJP government and are no longer willing to tolerate its dictatorial attitude along with that of the BMS,” said Datta.

He informed that during the two-day conference, 137 General Council members, including 23 women, were elected from 406 delegates. Notably, 64 members of the new council are fresh faces, marking a significant change in leadership composition.

CITU State President Manik Dey highlighted that the participation of women in trade union activities has increased substantially. A total of 38 women delegates actively took part in the general discussions during the conference, he added.

Along with Dey and Datta, former MLA and newly elected vice president Amitabha Datta was also present at the press meet.