TNI Bureau: The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) led Left Front in Tripura is looking to regain power for the fourth time. The voting began in the state today which will decide the fate of the Left and the Congress.
The CPI(M) is taking the credit for ending its term in the state with peace and communal harmony. It claims that Tripura as a model state in terms of good governance. The state has topped the list in the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), and bagged 15 awards for successful implementation of various schemes.
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However, the Left is quite skeptical about its victory as it is contesting the polls against the three-party opposition alliance led by Congress whose position in the state grew after Rahul Gandhi’s campaign. It is the test time for Rahul after taking the charge as the Congress Vice President to mould the citizens to cast their votes in favour of the party. Even prominent Congress leaders such as Union minister Deepa Das Munshi, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram also campaigned in the state.
It can be said that Tripura is the last bastion for Left to fall if it the party does not get majority in the 60-member State Assembly.
Left Front with strong campaign by CPI-M leaders Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury, Surya Kanta Mishra and Brinda Karat is contesting 56 seats, RSP two and CPI and Forward Block one each. The Congress has fielded for 48 seats and its alliance partners INPT is contesting in in 11 and National Conference of Tripura in 1. The BJP has fielded 20 candidates for the polls.