The quest to retain the last bastion brought all most the entire top brass of the CPI(M) to Tripura who are criss-crossing the whole state to campaign in favour of their party candidates for the February 14 state Assembly elections. Apart from chief minister Manik Sarkar, three more politburo members — Sitaram Yechury, Brinda Karat and West Bengal state secretary Biman Bose — are now in Tripura. Each of them is holding four to five meetings every day in different parts of the state.
Another politburo member and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Surjya Kanta Mishra, also spent four days in two phases in addition to party general secretary Prakash Karat, who was present in the central rally on January 20 to launch the party campaign. Many other leaders of various ranks, including the only notable leader in the Hindi belt, Ms Suhashini Ali, also visited.
Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is the only notable absentee as the state party did not requisition for him. None of the Kerala leaders were invited either, possibly to avoid any reminder about the party’s factional feud in that state.
Retaining power in Tripura became imperative for the leftists to remain relevant in national politics as it is the only state where they are still in power after losing West Bengal and Kerala. Mr Sarkar is shouldering the main responsibility for campaigning as he is holding meetings in all the 60 constituencies in addition to 24 meetings he had in his constituency Dhanpur.
Though confident about his fourth consecutive term as chief minister and the formation of the state’s seventh Left Front government, Mr Sarkar is leaving no stone unturned to ensure increase his party’s present tally of 49 seats in the 60-member house. Apart from highlighting the achievements of his government, maintaining peace and tranquillity prevailing in the state have become his main plank in the campaign. “Don’t let the jot jamana return,” he appeals in every meeting in a bid to remind people about the rule of the Congress-TUJS alliance government from 1988 to 1993, the most turbulent period the state witnessed in recent times.
However, it is apparent that the 121 lucrative promises made in the Congress-INPT-NCT manifesto has shaken the CM’s confidence as he is referring to it in every meeting to tell people that it is a document of deception. He is also trying to infuse fear among people about the return of the days of terror by reminding them of the past connection of some of the leaders of the INPT with insurgents.