Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha. , Photo Credit: PTI
The Tripura unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party improved when Manik Saha, a dental surgeon, replaced the controversial Biplab Kumar Deb as chief minister eight months ago. assembly elections was scheduled for 16 February. The “wave” that ended BJP’s 25-year Left Front rule in 2018 is missing, but Mr Saha claims the tsunami is in the party’s favor this time. In an interview, he downplayed the perceived threat from Tipra Mothaa new local party, and rejected Left Front-Congress alliance as an impure. Part.
Ride of BJP let’s rebound‘ (Let’s change) to come to power in 2018. What changed?
Very. Road, rail, air and internet connectivity have improved significantly and the process of reviving inland water transport is underway in collaboration with neighboring Bangladesh. Wages of all grades of employees and casual workers have been increased by 30-94%, jobs have been created, infrastructure and healthcare have been upgraded, farmers’ productivity and incomes have increased, and ease of doing business has increased. It has become easier. Most importantly, peace reigned in Tripura after decades of terror. This is evident from the freedom and enthusiasm with which all parties are campaigning in this election unlike in the past.
But your party’s campaign focused on the achievements of the Centre. Does this indicate that the state has nothing to show, as the opposition parties say?
Absolutely not. The public knows what we have done. Social pension for 2.8 lakh poor people was increased from Rs 700 to Rs 2,000 each before 2018 and 30,000 were added to the list of beneficiaries. All kinds of crimes have come down to a great extent during the Left Front rule. For the safety of women, we have seven women police stations and a help desk in all the police stations. There are many such achievements. We are highlighting the achievements of the Center as its benefits reach the State.
What about the 2018 promise to take back 10,323 sacked teachers?
The Left Front is crying foul about a problem it has created. The matter is stuck in legal complications but we are trying to give relief to them on humanitarian grounds and have also formed an advocacy committee for them.
Is the Left Front-Congress alliance a threat to the BJP this time?
People are skeptical about an alliance between the two parties, which have a history of violence against each other. These parties do not trust each other. They have made compromises for their survival but in the process they have told the people that they cannot provide stability. It is good that their secret unholy alliance of five years ago has come out in the open. The people will reject him on the day of polling.
What about Tipra Motha?
Motha has approached the elections with an impractical demand for Greater Tipperaryland, which has no geographical clarity. He started his politics by sowing the seeds of division between tribal and non-tribal people but now claims to be inclusive. They are surrounded by problems. People can see their agenda and it is good for us.
Will its entry, especially in more than 20 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes, split the anti-BJP vote?
There is no question of division of anti-BJP votes. We have reports that a tsunami may hit our side. In the tribal areas, murmurs have started about the dominance of Tipra Motha. People forget that we have 10 MLAs there and the same number of members from the Tribal Autonomous Council. It would be a delusion to think that we do not have strength in tribal areas.