Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha has sharpened his attack on the Opposition ahead of the upcoming local elections in the State. He accused the Congress and CPIM of pursuing political power through division and alleged that voters had already rejected the Left’s return to government.
Key Takeaways
- Chief Minister Manik Saha accused the Opposition of confusing voters and seeking power for political gain.
- Saha said the BJP will contest the upcoming Village Committee elections with its NDA allies.
- He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s welfare and development focus for the BJP’s continued public support.
Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha has accused the Opposition of trying to confuse voters ahead of the upcoming Village Committee elections. He alleged that the Congress and CPIM were joining hands mainly to regain political power rather than focus on public welfare.
Saha made the remarks while addressing a large public meeting organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 4-Barjala Mandal. His comments come as political parties prepare for a series of local elections in the state.
Dr Saha Targets Opposition Strategy
The Chief Minister alleged that the Opposition lacked a clear political approach and was attempting to mislead people.
He said the state had several elections ahead. The Village Committee polls will be among the first major contests. According to Saha, the BJP will fight the elections with its NDA allies.
He also accused Opposition parties of attempting to create divisions among voters.
Dr Saha referred to Tripura’s political history while attacking the CPIM. He recalled the Left’s return to power in 1978 and its subsequent 35-year rule in the state.
He said people had experienced a difficult political period during those years. He also referred to the strong presence of the Left in Tripura and West Bengal at the time.
The Chief Minister particularly mentioned the Barjala area. He alleged that some Opposition elements were still planning political strategies to regain control.
‘People Will Not Accept CPIM Again’
Dr Saha claimed that the people of Tripura had already rejected the CPIM and would not support its return to power.
He alleged that some Opposition leaders were still following the political mindset of the late 1970s. According to him, they were exploring different methods to regain government power.
The Chief Minister also criticised the Congress-CPIM alliance.
He alleged that both parties were primarily interested in securing the political chair. He argued that their focus should instead remain on the needs of ordinary citizens.
Dr Saha cited the previous Assembly election to support his argument. He said Congress and CPIM workers were seen carrying each other’s party flags in different places.
He also questioned how the Congress and CPIM could now work together after years of political rivalry.
BJP Projects Electoral Confidence
Dr Saha described the BJP as the country’s largest political organisation. He said the party’s political graph continued to rise.
The Chief Minister also expressed confidence about the BJP’s prospects in the coming local elections.
He pointed to the previous local body elections. The BJP, he said, had won all 20 of the 20 seats it contested in the earlier contest.
Dr Saha predicted a similar result this time.
He said political parties could not depend on muscle power to win public support. Instead, they needed to establish trust among voters and work consistently for the people.
According to Dr Saha, public confidence remains the key factor behind electoral success.
Welfare Politics at Centre of BJP Pitch
The Chief Minister also highlighted the government’s welfare initiatives.
He said people were receiving drinking water, housing support, free food and LPG connections. He questioned why political parties should politicise welfare programmes aimed at helping citizens.
Dr Saha linked the BJP’s public support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development and welfare agenda.
He described Modi as a leader who remained focused on people and national development.
The Chief Minister said the Union government had worked to strengthen India’s economy. He pointed to the country’s rising economic position and claimed that India had become the world’s fourth-largest economy.
Dr Manik Saha also defended the performance of the Tripura government. He said the state administration had continued to work for ordinary people and deliver development-oriented programmes.
Local Polls Set to Test Political Claims
The upcoming Village Committee elections will provide another electoral test for the BJP, Congress and CPIM in Tripura.
The BJP is seeking to build on its recent electoral and organisational gains. Meanwhile, Opposition parties are attempting to consolidate their support base and challenge the ruling alliance.
His remarks indicate that the BJP intends to make welfare delivery, development and political stability central themes of its campaign.
The criticism of the Congress-CPIM alliance also signals an effort to frame the upcoming contest as a choice between the ruling BJP-led alliance and an Opposition seeking to return to power.
With local elections approaching, the competing claims of the ruling party and Opposition are likely to shape the political discourse across Tripura.
