Agartala: April 10: In a spirited election rally, Biplap Kumar Deb, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the West Lok Sabha seat, delivered a pointed message to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM]. His tone, laced with irony, underscored the political landscape in Tripura.
Deb began by referencing the Communists’ historical claim that politics in Tripura originated from the 20 Janjati seats—their supposed stronghold. In contrast, he portrayed the opposition as starting from scratch. The Communists, he noted, consistently treated the masses as mere vote banks, pocketing their support.
However, Deb’s sarcasm reached its peak when he highlighted the decades-long chant: “Janjatis live in their left pocket.” This assertion, according to him, was nothing short of an insult to the people of Tripura. Despite this, the Communists now seek votes from the very same populace they once disregarded.
Turning his attention to the royal family, Deb accused the Communists of labeling them unscrupulous. Meanwhile, Pradyot Kishore Devvarman, a proponent of people-centric development, emerged as a contrasting figure. Deb questioned the Communists’ honesty in their dealings with the people.
Highlighting the opposition’s stance, Deb clarified that parties like the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), Tipra Matha, and Tripura Suraksha Samiti (TSU) were never against the BJP. Their disagreement lay squarely with the Communists. In contrast, the Congress, once a rival, has now aligned itself with the CPM.
Deb’s final blow came as he reminded the audience of the sacrifices made by Congress workers during the CPM era. Today, the Congress-CPM alliance stands, but Deb confidently declared that they would not secure a single vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
As the political drama unfolds, Tripura braces itself for a decisive electoral battle, where old alliances and new dynamics collide.
