ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief critical account of the Communist Party of India (CPI)/Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) engagement in liberal democratic politics as a liberal democratic force that has sought to build bases of support around the compelling issues of the day. It examines the relative success in delivering governance in Tripura since the 1990s around a host of issues such as the rule of law, social inclusion, growth, development and empowerment. The chapter points out a dilemma though: a State within the Indian Federation can be better governed with growth, development and social empowerment without attracting any foreign direct investment, which is given priority in measuring development by the power that is at the Centre. The CPI and later on the CPI-M kept up the pressure from below for democratization of the governing structures in Tripura including the movement for State-hood. The multi-party competition in Tripura has been connected to federalism and governance.
