Arch rivals, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its opponent, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPIM, are embroiled in a fierce electoral contest as leaders from both parties reach the final phase of campaigning for the Assembly by-polls in Boxanagar and Dhanpur under the Sepahijala District of Tripura. Even as the outcome of polls will cause fall of the BJP-led State Government, these crucial by-polls have become a battleground for political supremacy.
In the Boxanagar constituency, the CPIM is making a desperate bid to retain its stronghold, while the BJP is determined to wrest the seat from the leftists.
The Chief Minister of Tripura, Dr. Manik Saha, is leading an assertive campaign for the BJP in Boxanagar. On the other side, Jitendra Choudhury, the State Secretary of CPIM, is spearheading the canvassing efforts for the CPIM candidate, supported by other prominent state leaders.
Addressing a gathering in support of CPIM candidate Mijan Hossain on Monday, Jitendra Choudhury accused the ruling BJP of obstructing development and asserted that the people of Boxanagar had witnessed substantial progress during the tenure of the previous Left front government. He specifically pointed out CPIM MLAs Sahid Chowdhury and Samsul Haque, crediting them with bringing tangible development to the Boxanagar region and the Sonamura subdivision.
Choudhury expressed his confidence of victory of Left candidates saying, “We believe that the people of Boxanagar will once again cast their votes for the Left front.”
He emphasized that the reasons for supporting the ruling party had diminished. He argued, “We seek votes in both Boxanagar and Dhanpur constituencies because the citizens of this state wished to remove the BJP from power in the last Assembly polls due to their governance failures and policies that have adversely affected the lives of the common people, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Former minister and CPIM leader Manik Dey, launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP. He alleged, “This government has done nothing for the welfare of the state’s populace; instead, they have misused public funds for self-promotion of their ministers and leaders across the region.”
Dey also questioned the efficacy of the BJP’s ‘double-engine’ governance model and accused them of irregularities in the Public Distribution System (PDS).
He further criticized the BJP’s handling of infrastructural development in Tripura, asserting that the much-hyped ‘double-engine’ government had failed to initiate new road and highway projects and had fallen short in establishing vital infrastructures.