Tripura, India's third-smallest state in terms of geographical area, went to polls on February 16 amid sporadic incidents of violence. Votes will be counted on March 2. A total of 259 candidates are in fray for the 60-member Assembly.
Five years after the BJP ended the Left’s uninterrupted 25-year run in Tripura, the state seems headed for a three-cornered fight, with the CPI(M)-Congress combine and the TIPRA Motha challenging the incumbent’s bid to retain power. The entry of TIPRA Motha into the battlefield this year has provided a new political narrative with the party's leader Pradyot Manikya Debbarma claiming to represent the indigenous communities.
While the BJP is contesting in 55 seats, its ally IPFT fielded candidates in six constituencies. There is a friendly fight in one seat. The CPI(M) is contesting in 47 seats, while its ally Congress has candidates in 13. TIPRA Motha has candidates in 42 seats. The TMC has fielded candidates in 28 seats.
In a significant revelation, the Chief Minister also said a section of BJP Karyakartas suffered from “bichyuti” or “deviations” and got influenced by other political parties and said the party would need to be “discussed” in the party.
Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman says those who wanted to form a government alone or tried to be kingmakers frustrated a ‘sure victory’ against the BJP by dividing votes.
The BJP, whose influence is restricted to Shillong, campaigned stridently against the state’s tribal majority. Under attack, the tribals polarized and gravitated to Sangma’s party. The losers were the Congress and UDP. In Tripura, the newly formed TIPRA Motha was propped up secretly and helped decimate the Left and Congress alliance.
Sukla Charan Noatia, the lone minister from BJP's alliance partner Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), has been given charges of Cooperation, Tribal Welfare (TRP and PTG) and Welfare of Minorities departments
Speaking to indianexpress.com, a senior official of Tripura Police, who did not wish to be named, said PM Modi would land at Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in the morning and lead a road show from the airport to the swearing-in ceremony venue.
In just two years since it was founded, Tipra Motha, led by Tripura royal scion Pradyot Debbarma, has emerged as the second largest party after the ruling BJP in the Tripura Assembly elections.
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