Tripura BJP chief Rajib Bhattacharjee told News18 in an exclusive interview that the BJP will win the Tripura elections with an absolute majority on the back of the central government’s efforts to improve the state’s connectivity and the development work done for tribals in the state.
In the interview, Bhattacharjee categorically ruled out any settlement with Tipra Motha unless it dropped the Greater Tipraland demand.
Edited excerpts:
What’s the feeling on the ground?
The sentiment is in favor of the BJP, as the party came to power in 2018 by overthrowing 25 years of Left rule. At that time the only slogan of BJP was development. We have worked for all kinds of people and we are going to people with our report cards. People are taking interest and supporting only BJP.
What was the reason behind the change of Chief Minister? Opposition says it shows your “failure”…
pandemonium Yes We have leaders and in 2016 he became our President. He has reached every part of the state and has done Conflict (Conflict). This struggle became the reason for the change of government. He was then made the CM but the central leadership thought twice and appointed a new chief minister.
Dr. Manik Saha was made the CM and Biplab Deb was admitted to the Rajya Sabha and given the responsibility of Haryana. The central leadership wants Biplab Deb there and Manik Saha here.
The opposition says it shows the “failure” of the BJP government…
No, this is not true. He has done everything for every area including tribal areas. Biplab Deb has implemented the good work of double engine government. We have been in power for five years but out of that two years were taken by Kovid-19. We had no infrastructure to fight the pandemic.
Under Deb, Tripura was the first state in the Northeast to receive the vaccine. Biplab Deb went to Delhi and sought more facilities from the Centre. The opposition has no issue to talk about. Even today people like Biplab Deb wherever he goes. Everyone likes Manik Saha too.
If you have faith then why did you want to tie up with Tipra Motha?
Tipra Motha is a regional party. After independence no one wanted the development of these tribals. The Congress was in power at the Center and in the State, but did nothing. Was left in the state, but did nothing. No national or regional party did anything for them.
When BJP came to power, we started working for tribals and their development. Now, Dhalai is an inspirational district project. There is a lot of work going on now. Tribal areas have been given priority, 17 Eklavya Vidyalayas have been planned and work has already started at some places.
Then why did you want to tie up with Motha?
We want development in tribal areas. Tipra Motha’s slogan is Greater Tipraland, which will not happen. His grandfather worked to unite Tripura, but he is working to break Tripura. Whether we are in the government or not, we will never work to break Tripura.
Pradyut said that the draft was shown to him and he met Himanta Biswa Sarma…
A meeting took place and he was asked to leave Greater Tipperland. We will not give him anything in writing. We will definitely work on tribal development and make an understanding, but we will never do anything to break Tripura.
What was the need to talk to Tipra Motha?
Tipra Motha also has support in some places, but as the elections are nearing, the real picture is coming out. He recently harassed an IPFT candidate. No one wants criminal activity in Tripura. No one can win through riots. Election Means democracy. Tipra Motha is doing all this in connivance with CPM. We appeal that they should embrace democracy and contest elections fairly.
Opposition claims law and order is deteriorating in Tripura…
Manik Sarkar is no longer contesting elections. He did not like this distribution of seats with the Congress. This did not go down well with the senior leaders of the CPI(M). CPM remained in power for 25 years but now had to tie up with Congress. Their organization has weakened, yet they have boarded the sinking ship. Congress is also weak and it is not getting candidates to stand in the elections.
I want to ask CPM how many murders took place in Tripura. Just before the 2018 elections, 11 of our workers were murdered. His health minister raised his voice against him and was murdered. People still want to know who did this. Where was the law and order then? Crimes against women were increasing.
TMC also said that there is a huge problem of law and order.
They have no value. They don’t have candidates. Mamta, you please handle Bengal. Bengal was known for Netaji and Rabindranath Tagore but now is at the top of corruption where politicians are behind bars. Huge amount has been recovered from their houses. He should concentrate on Bengal and then think of Tripura. Tripura does not need Syndicate Raj.
Why would people vote for BJP again?
We helped 3 lakh people to get houses. Now there is railway connectivity. We never thought that Rajdhani and Shatabdi would come here but now it comes. Tripura had only one highway, now we have six national highways. We have an international airport. Social pension has been increased to Rs 2,000 and 20% DA has been given.
Will BJP forge an alliance in case of a hung house?
This will be known after the results are out. Modi Yes NDA is running the government. Motha has to drop the issue of Greater Tipperaland.
What will happen to the 10,323 teachers who have not got jobs?
This is a sad incident in Tripura. Now CPM says in its manifesto that it will give them jobs. But how? Their case is in the Supreme Court. We want to do something for them.
Pratima Bhowmik is also contesting the election. Who will be the CM?
The central leadership of BJP will decide after we win. We will get absolute majority.
read all latest politics news Here