AGARTALA, July 19 (TIWN/IANS): Women constitute 26.49 percent of the CPI-M's members in Tripura, much more than the some 10 percent nationally, a party leader said on Sunday.

"Around 26.49 percent of the 89,570 members in Tripura are women," state party secretary Bijan Dhar told the media. 

"The percentage of women members of the party was always higher in Tripura compared to the national proportion," he added.

Dhar said that after the last state conference in 2014, the number of party members rose to 87,691 from 76,636. These figures came out after the annual renewal of party membership.

The women membership rose to 26.49 percent this year from 25.76 percent last year.

"Despite the death of 527 party members and leaders, 260 members expelled and 3,546 unwilling to renew the membership during the past one year, the strength of party members has gone up by 2.14 percent," he added.

A central committee member of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Dhar said: "Quality of party members is a big issue for us. Our rectification move is on and this is an endless task. To maintain quality of membership is also a non-stop endeavour."

At the national level, around 10 percent of the total of 10.58 lakh members (as per 2015 party Congress data) are women.

Dhar also expressed apprehension over the growth of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Indigenious People's Front of Tripura, Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura and Amara Bangalee in Tripura.

"These are divisive forces and their political work creates division among various communities and ethnic groups, disturbing peace, tranquility and integration among the people," he said.