Tripura Polls: Left Front Manifesto Promises Return of Peace and Democracy to the State

Kolkata: The Tripura Left Front, in the first electoral manifesto released in the state this year, has condemned the reign of terror established by the ruling BJP IPFT government.

“A single party’s fascist rule is in place in Tripura,” said the manifesto, adding that democracy has been “destroyed” in Tripura by the current regime. It also said that the process of free election is marred in the state and freedom of the press is under attack. “The idea of secularism has been destroyed in the state. The minority section of the population is finding it difficult to observe their religion and there is intense pressure on them,” alleged the Left Front.

The manifesto also featured important announcements like free electricity to marginalised families in the state, free water for irrigation to agriculturalists, an increase in the minimum wage in the state for all categories of workers, and 2.5 lakh jobs in the next five years. It promised that the formation of the Left Front-led government will ensure the bustling of trade and commerce in the state. Further, it will put a stop to the privatisation of educational institutions.

If voted to power, the manifesto said, the sacked 10,323 teachers – sacked by the BJP government citing legal issues – will be given government employment. The government will also work towards bringing the indigenous Kakbarak language within the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Speaking to NewsClick about the manifesto and on the general condition in the state,  CPI(M) Central Committee member Tapan Chakraborty said, “The marginalised sections of the population know the work of the Left Front government. The social security network in the state will be enhanced; impetus will be given to the primary sectors like the agriculture and tea industry. Secondly, small-scale industry and medium-scale industries will be further developed.”

He alleged that these sectors have been destroyed in the past five years under the BJP rule. “The promises they made in the vision document remain all unfulfilled. But they won't succeed this time,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Tripura Left Front is all set to contest 47 seats, while Congress will contest 13 seats after the withdrawal of the nomination process in Tripura. Earlier, the latter had fielded three more candidates than the number agreed upon for the seat-sharing. However, ultimately, it has stuck to the original commitment of contesting 13 seats.

In a press release, Tripura  Pradesh Congress Committee chief Birjeet Sinha said that he is appealing to all his partymen for a unified fight against the BJP to bring peace and democracy back to Tripura.

The Left-Congress seat adjustment was sealed yesterday. After the nomination withdrawal process, it was seen that for the 60 Assembly segments, 251 candidates are in the fray. The Left Front is fighting in 46 seats; the Left-supported independent in one seat, and congress in 13 seats. The indigenous group Tipra Motha has fielded candidates in 42 seats, while the BJP is eyeing 55 seats. Its alliance partner IPFT has given candidature in six seats. The TMC has been able to field candidates in 28 seats.

Amongst the prominent candidates fielded by the Left Front are CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Choudhury from Sabroom and party leader Pabitra Kar from the Khairpur Assembly seat.