Agartala (Tripura) Dec 14: The term “second place” is being used frequently in Tripura these days. However, whether in terms of seats or vote percentage, there is a vast gap—akin to the difference between the sky and the earth—between the first-placed party (Left Front) and the second-placed party (Congress, BJP, or Trinamool).
Seeking the “second place” inherently involves comparing it to the first. But when the first is like the Himalayas, comparing it to a mere hillock fails to provide an accurate picture of the second-placed party.
Instead, it would be more meaningful to identify which party came first among the defeated opposition parties. This way, opposition parties could assess their actual standing and estimate how much vote swing they would need to secure the first position. Otherwise, they will remain intoxicated by false pride, perpetually stuck in second place, celebrating hollow victories.
In the recently concluded municipal elections, the Left Front has captured all 13 municipal councils, including the Agartala Municipal Corporation, and all 5 urban panchayats. The opposition collectively scored a “zero.”
In terms of seats, out of a total of 310 seats, the Left Front won 291 seats, Congress secured 13, BJP 4, and independents 2.
In other words, the opposition collectively won 6.1% of the seats, while the Left Front secured 93.9%. So, what sense does it make to fuss over who came second?
It’s like debating which drum sank the deepest after the entire orchestra has been submerged. While the opposition indulges in such meaningless discussions, the Left Front has already hit the ground running, strengthening public outreach.
Truth be told, the Left Front stands unparalleled, as of now and the opposition’s pride in being “second” amounts to nothing more than sipping hot tea in a cold room—ultimately futile.
