CPI(M) and BJP set for first face-to-face battle

AGARTALA: The CPI(M) is confident of retaining power in its bastion of Tripura in Sunday’s elections and achieving a turnaround in the Left movement across the country, though the BJP is battling tooth and nail to oust the Left Front government.

In India’s 65-year-long electoral history, the country’s dominant Left party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has never been in direct confrontation with the BJP.

However, political developments in Tripura in 2016 and 2017 have set the stage for their first face-to-face battle as the saffron outfit has emerged as the key opposition party in this Communist-ruled northeastern state.

All the top leaders of CPI-M, BJP, Congress and Trinamool Congress participated in the hectic two-month long poll campaign that ended on Friday afternoon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and party’s general secretary in-charge of northeastern states Ram Madhav, the chief ministers of five BJP-ruled states, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, politburo members including Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, addressed a record number of election rallies since December.

Hours before the end of campaign, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other central leaders boosted the campaign of the Congress party, which has been hit by large numbers of top state party leaders, seven MLAs and huge number of workers joining the BJP since last year.

Trinamool Congress, which allied with two tribal-based parties — Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura and National Conference of Tripura— boosted its poll campaign by roping in senior leaders and film stars from West Bengal.

Ballotting will take place in 59 of the 60 assembly constituencies. Polling has been deferred in Charilam due to the death of CPI(M )candidate Ramendra Narayan Debbarma. It will be held on March 12.

In all 295 candidates, would be testing their electoral fortunes in Sunday’s election. Counting will take place on March 3.