Agartala, December 13 (IANS). Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday alleged that during its long stay in power, the CPI(M) saw the tribal (tribal) communities only as a vote bank, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is committed to inclusive development and public welfare.
Addressing a party program organized at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan here, the Chief Minister said that the Communists were so confident of their hold on the tribal voters that they started counting votes from only 20 seats reserved for tribals in the 60-member assembly.
He said, “But now they (CPI-M) are scared. We have learned from them only. Whenever BJP government is formed in the next assembly elections, we will also start counting from 20 seats only.”
Saha, a former state president of BJP, said that his party needs Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party’s national president J.P. Nadda’s guidance and blessings and continuous work is being done for peace and development in the state.
He alleged that earlier politics was full of fear, intimidation and violence, due to which tribal communities had to suffer for a long time.
At Saturday’s event, Chief Minister Saha formally welcomed 5,050 voters from 1,706 families into the BJP.
Referring to earlier political working style, he said that earlier when leaders came to meetings, markets were closed and threats were made.
He said, “Such politics will no longer work. Wherever we are attacked, the BJP becomes stronger.” He also said that the party is committed to building ‘New Tripura’ following Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘New India’.
The Chief Minister said, “BJP is not a party of goons, but a party that works for the people.”
Explaining the concept of ‘Thansa’, Saha said that it is a tribal word, which means unity. It is a symbol of unity among caste (non-tribal), tribe (tribal), Manipuri and minority communities, which the BJP wants to strengthen so as to build a developed Tripura.
He said the BJP-led government is working with a clear focus on development and respects all those who have contributed to the state, including members of the royal family.
The Chief Minister said that even though new political parties keep emerging, the government that actually works for the welfare of the tribes is the double engine government of the BJP.
Saha said those who joined the BJP on Saturday have taken the right decision at the right time and he is confident that the party will emerge stronger in the upcoming Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections.
–IANS
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