It is Tripura’s turn to see a change: Shah
BJP chief criticises Marxist govt for failing to ensure 24x7 power supply, drinking water; promises development
After Assam and Manipur in the north-east, the BJP would form its government in Tripura, BJP national president Amit Shah said on Monday as the party continued its campaign blitz for the February 18 assembly elections.
“Based on organisational strength and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fame, BJP assumed power in Assam and Manipur. And I can assure that now it’s the turn of Tripura to see a change soon with a BJP government,” said Shah, while addressing mediapersons in Agartala.
In line with his campaign speeches, he criticised the Marxist government for failing to ensure 24×7 power supply, drinking water, health care facilities and other infrastructure and generate employment despite ruling the state for more than two decades. Shah said the government’s inefficiency forced the state to remain backward. “When the Marxists first came to power here, the unemployment figure was 25,000 and after 25 years, it has risen to more than seven lakh,” he said.
Development would come only after the BJP formed the next government, Shah said. “In their regime, law and order also deteriorated and the state topped the list in case of crime against women,” he alleged. “The CPI(M) only believes in violence to stay in power.” Shah’s sweeping comment on crimes against women came despite the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) annual figures released last December showing that it was BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh which tops this particular category of crime.
The BJP also suspected CPI(M)’s hand in kidnapping of one of its party workers two days ago. The worker’s body was discovered hanging on the outskirts of Agartala on Sunday evening. The police have not yet described it as a political murder.
Shah reiterated that after coming to power at the Centre, Modi introduced a bunch of welfare schemes and even allocated additional ₹18,000 in the 14th Finance Commission for Tripura. The party chief also took a swipe at the Congress, insisting that the party was contesting only to divide the anti-Left votes and appealed to the voters to be aware of it.
“The Congress is not contesting the polls seriously. They are contesting to help CPI(M) through division of anti-left votes,” Shah said. He repeated that if the BJP came to power in the state, it would fulfil all promises mentioned in its vision document released on Sunday. Shah, who arrived in the state on Saturday evening, had addressed three election rallies on Sunday too.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who arrived in Agartala on Monday, will take part in roadshows followed by public meetings in North and Dhalai districts. He will fly out on Tuesday after addressing three public rallies. Lok Sabha MP Hema Malini during a day-long visit on Monday addressed three public meetings at Dhanpur, Nalchar in Sepajhila district and Kakraban in Gomati district.