Calling the Opposition CPI(M), Congress and Tipra Motha as "triple trouble," in Tripura, Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asked the people to vote for the BJP-led "double engine government" in order to further push development in the next five years.
"People of Tripura have seen the misrule of the Left and the corruption during the Congress. The two parties fought and killed their members all these years and now they have joined hands. Tipra Motha, which is supporting them, can not do any welfare for the tribals. In fact, they have become triple trouble here. It is up to you whether you want to vote for the triple trouble or the double engine government of Prime Minister Narendra at the Centre and CM Manik Saha in the state," Shah said while addressing two rallies, first at Chandipur and later in Charilam constituency in Tripura.
Assembly elections in Tripura are scheduled on February 16.
Shah said BJP in 2018 ended the "misrule" of the Left and established peace and security. "We ended militancy by signing an agreement with the NLFT, solved the long issue of Bur/Reang refugees and took steps for the rehabilitation of 37, 000 refugees. We have constructed four lakh houses, provided free ration for nearly two years now, provided Ayushman cards to 13 lakh people, provided government jobs to 2,400 youths and established 20,000 small," he said.
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"This time, the Congress-CPI(M) on one hand and Tipra Motha on the other are helping each other to bring back jungle raj to Tripura. But the people know that the Left has disappeared from the entire world and Congress has been already rejected in the country. So people will not vote for them in Tripura," Shah said.
The Home Minister alleged that large scale corruption had taken place during the tenure of the CPI(M) and Congress. "There was a chit fund scam, Rs 115 crores NREGA scam, health mission scam, scam in the implementation of school education schemes and many more. Tripura became a hub of illegal drugs during the Left and Congress rule. In the past five years, we have taken a lot of steps in order to make Tripura a drug free state," he said.
In 2018, BJP had ended the 25-year-long CPI(M) government and formed its government for the first time. This time, the saffron party is facing a challenge from the Congress and Left parties, contesting in all 60 seats with seat sharing arrangement for the first time. Tipra Motha, a regional party led by Pradyot Deb Barma, on the other hand, is fighting in 42 seats with a demand for 'Greater Tipraland' for the tribals. Motha rejected an offer for alliance from BJP without a written assurance on Tipraland. BJP has fielded candidates in 55 seats and given the remaining five to IPFT, its ally since 2018. The CPI(M)-Congress has said they are in touch with Tipra Motha for "helping each other" during polls in order to remove BJP from power.