By Agartala Correspondent | Tripura 24.in AGARTALA | March 10, 2026
AGARTALA: A massive protest rally was organized today in front of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) headquarters by three prominent labor and trade organizations. The Tripura Bidyut Karmi Union (TBKU), CITU, and the TECC (HB Road) joined forces to voice their strong opposition against the central government’s proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025, which they have termed “anti-people” and “pro-corporate.”
The protesters gathered at the Bidyut Bhavan complex, raising slogans demanding the immediate withdrawal of the bill, which they claim will lead to the privatization of the power sector and a massive hike in electricity tariffs for common consumers.
Manik Dey: “A Conspiracy to Privatize Essential Services”
Former Power Minister and state CITU President Manik Dey led the demonstration. In his address, he alleged that the 2025 Bill is a direct attempt to dismantle the public sector power infrastructure to benefit private corporate giants.
”This bill is a death warrant for the common consumer and the farming community. By allowing multiple distribution companies to share existing networks, the government is paving the way for private players to cherry-pick profitable urban areas while leaving the loss-making rural sectors to the state, eventually leading to a total collapse of public utilities,” Dey stated.
Key Concerns Raised by the Joint Forum:
The leadership of the three organizations highlighted several “draconian” provisions of the Bill:
- Tariff Hikes: The removal of cross-subsidies will lead to a sharp rise in electricity bills for domestic users and farmers.
- Job Insecurity: The organizations expressed fear that the shift toward privatization would result in large-scale job losses and the outsourcing of permanent posts.
- Smart Meter Concerns: The forum also reiterated their opposition to the mandatory installation of smart meters, which they claim are plagued by inaccurate billing.
- Federal Disregard: Leaders alleged that the Bill undermines the rights of the State Government to regulate its own power sector.
Prominent Leaders in Attendance
The protest saw a significant turnout of electricity department employees and trade union activists. Key leaders present included:
- Ranjit Rudrapal, Chairman of TECC (HB Road).
- Mahua Roy, General Secretary of TECC (HB Road).
- Sankar Prasad Datta, State General Secretary of CITU.
- Ranbir Roy, President of Tripura Bidyut Karmi Union (TBKU).
- Subrata Ganguly, General Secretary of TBKU.
Nationwide Context
This local protest is part of a larger nationwide movement called by the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE). Similar demonstrations were reported across the country today, as power sector workers marked March 10 as a day of resistance against the tabling of the Bill in Parliament.
The joint forum warned the state government and the TSECL management that if the “anti-worker” and “anti-consumer” policies are not reversed, they will initiate a prolonged statewide agitation, including the possibility of work boycotts in the coming months.
