Biplab Kumar Deb will be sworn in as the chief minister of Tripura on Friday, officially ushering the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Left bastion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states have been invited.

&quot;The swearing-in ceremony will be on March 9 at 10.30 am. We have sent an invitation to the Prime Minister and all the chief ministers of the BJP government. I hope Prime Minister accepts the invitation,&quot; said Deb, while addressing the media on Thursday.

Former chief minister Manik Sarkar was personally invited by Deb and BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav.

Yesterday, Union minister Nitin Gadkari announced Deb as the chief minister while Jishnu Kumar Deb was named as deputy chief minister.

The announcement was made at the state guesthouse in Agartala.

Earlier in the month, the BJP and its ally Indigenous People&#39;s Front of Tripura (IPFT) scripted history in the assembly election by ending the 25-year reign of the Left Front-led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), with a two-thirds majority in the Tripura legislative assembly elections.

The BJP won 35 of the 59 seats that went to polls in Tripura, ousting the CPI(M) which won only in 17 assembly constituencies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states have been invited

Biplab Kumar Deb will be sworn in as the chief minister of Tripura on Friday, officially ushering the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Left bastion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states have been invited. "The swearing-in ceremony will be on March 9 at 10.30 am. We have sent an invitation to the Prime Minister and all the chief ministers of the BJP government. I hope Prime Minister accepts the invitation," said Deb, while addressing the media on Thursday. Former chief minister Manik Sarkar was personally invited by Deb and BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav. Yesterday, Union minister Nitin Gadkari announced Deb as the chief minister while Jishnu Kumar Deb was named as deputy chief minister. The announcement was made at the state guesthouse in Agartala. Earlier in the month, the BJP and its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) scripted history in the assembly election by ending the 25-year reign of the Left Front-led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), with a two-thirds majority in the Tripura legislative assembly elections. The BJP won 35 of the 59 seats that went to polls in Tripura, ousting the CPI(M) which won only in 17 assembly constituencies.

Biplab Deb to be sworn in as Tripura chief minister on Friday

Biplab Kumar Deb has been named the new chief minister of Tripura.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari made the announcement paving the way for the Tripura leader to become the 10th&nbsp;chief minister of the state.

Jishnu Deb Burman who is set to become the deputy chief minister said: &quot;I, Biplab Ji with all the MLAs will work together to take Tripura on the path of development,&quot; adding,&quot;will make Tripura the No -1 state in education, health, rural and tribal development.&nbsp;

On Sunday, the state&#39;s chief minister Manik Sarkar resigned after CPM- led Left Front&#39;s government&#39;s dismal show in the polls.

Sarkar, who was the chief minister since 1998 could not stop the rout as his party could manage just 16 seats with th &nbsp;BJP and the Indigenous People&#39;s Front of Tripura (IPFT) winning 43 seats in the 60-member assembly.

The BJP in effect was able to breach Tripura, popularly known as &quot;Red Fort&quot; which was ruled by the Left for 25 years. 
&nbsp;

Sarkar, who was the chief minister since 1998 could not stop the rout as his party could manage just 16 seats

Biplab Kumar Deb has been named the new chief minister of Tripura. Union minister Nitin Gadkari made the announcement paving the way for the Tripura leader to become the 10th chief minister of the state. Jishnu Deb Burman who is set to become the deputy chief minister said: "I, Biplab Ji with all the MLAs will work together to take Tripura on the path of development," adding,"will make Tripura the No -1 state in education, health, rural and tribal development. On Sunday, the state's chief minister Manik Sarkar resigned after CPM- led Left Front's government's dismal show in the polls. Sarkar, who was the chief minister since 1998 could not stop the rout as his party could manage just 16 seats with th BJP and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) winning 43 seats in the 60-member assembly. The BJP in effect was able to breach Tripura, popularly known as "Red Fort" which was ruled by the Left for 25 years.

Biplab Kumar Deb to be next Tripura chief minister

The BJP has projected <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/biplab-kumar-deb-elected-tripura-bjp-chief-may-become-chief-minister-34861">Biplab Kumar Deb</a> as its chief ministerial face in Tripura, where it ended the Left&#39;s 25-year rule and won 35 of 60 assembly seats in the recently-concluded election. Deb will be Tripura&#39;s 10th chief minister, succeeding Manik Sarkar.

Deb is the president of the BJP&#39;s Tripura unit and has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The 48-year-old completed his graduation from Tripura University in 1999 and moved to Delhi to join the RSS as volunteer. He also reportedly spent time at RSS headquarters in Nagpur. He returned to Tripura in 2016 to take charge of the BJP in the state.

Deb replaced Sudhindra Dasgupta as the BJP&#39;s Tripura unit chief - a decision which received thumbs up from PM Modi and party chief Amit Shah. He and is considered instrumental in turning around the BJP&#39;s fortunes in the Left citadel. With a door-to-door campaign and &quot;Chollo Paltai&quot; (let&#39;s make a change) slogan, Deb ensured the party&#39;s turnaround; he himself defeated CPI-M&#39;s Amal Chakraborty in the Banamalipur constituency by a margin of 9,549 votes.

Deb was born in Tripura&#39;s Udaipur on November 25, 1971. He is fond of gardening and listening to music.

Deb was unanimously elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Tripura on Tuesday. name was proposed by party MLA Sudip Roy Burman in the meeting,, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said.

Elections were held for 59 seats of the 60-member assembly on February 18.

Deb was born in Tripura's Udaipur on November 25, 1971. He is fond of gardening and listening to music.

The BJP has projected Biplab Kumar Deb as its chief ministerial face in Tripura, where it ended the Left's 25-year rule and won 35 of 60 assembly seats in the recently-concluded election. Deb will be Tripura's 10th chief minister, succeeding Manik Sarkar. Deb is the president of the BJP's Tripura unit and has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The 48-year-old completed his graduation from Tripura University in 1999 and moved to Delhi to join the RSS as volunteer. He also reportedly spent time at RSS headquarters in Nagpur. He returned to Tripura in 2016 to take charge of the BJP in the state. Deb replaced Sudhindra Dasgupta as the BJP's Tripura unit chief - a decision which received thumbs up from PM Modi and party chief Amit Shah. He and is considered instrumental in turning around the BJP's fortunes in the Left citadel. With a door-to-door campaign and "Chollo Paltai" (let's make a change) slogan, Deb ensured the party's turnaround; he himself defeated CPI-M's Amal Chakraborty in the Banamalipur constituency by a margin of 9,549 votes. Deb was born in Tripura's Udaipur on November 25, 1971. He is fond of gardening and listening to music. Deb was unanimously elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Tripura on Tuesday. name was proposed by party MLA Sudip Roy Burman in the meeting,, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said. Elections were held for 59 seats of the 60-member assembly on February 18.

Biplab Kumar Deb: The man who turned around BJP's fortune in Tripura

Outgoing Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar submitted his resignation to Governor Tathagata Roy here on Sunday, a day after the CPI(M)-led Left Front was dethroned by the BJP-IPFT coalition after nearly 25 years in power.

The governor advised Sarkar, who was the chief minister since 1998, to continue until the new chief minister takes an oath. Coming out of the Raj Bhavan, Sarkar told reporters that he and his ministers would not have been able to run the government for so many years unless the people and the employees extended their cooperation to them.

He expressed gratitude to the people of the state and the staff members of the state administration. The BJP-IPFT combine scripted history yesterday by winning the Tripura Assembly polls with a two-thirds majority, ending 25 years of uninterrupted rule of the CPI(M)-led Left Front in the northeastern state.

The BJP and the Indigenous People&#39;s Front of Tripura (IPFT) won 43 seats and the CPI(M) won 16. The election on 59 seats of the 60-member assembly was held on February 18. Polling was countermanded in one seat due to death of a CPI(M) candidate.

Outgoing Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar submitted his resignation to Governor Tathagata Roy

Outgoing Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar submitted his resignation to Governor Tathagata Roy here on Sunday, a day after the CPI(M)-led Left Front was dethroned by the BJP-IPFT coalition after nearly 25 years in power. The governor advised Sarkar, who was the chief minister since 1998, to continue until the new chief minister takes an oath. Coming out of the Raj Bhavan, Sarkar told reporters that he and his ministers would not have been able to run the government for so many years unless the people and the employees extended their cooperation to them. He expressed gratitude to the people of the state and the staff members of the state administration. The BJP-IPFT combine scripted history yesterday by winning the Tripura Assembly polls with a two-thirds majority, ending 25 years of uninterrupted rule of the CPI(M)-led Left Front in the northeastern state. The BJP and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) won 43 seats and the CPI(M) won 16. The election on 59 seats of the 60-member assembly was held on February 18. Polling was countermanded in one seat due to death of a CPI(M) candidate.

Manik Sarkar resigns as Tripura CM

Polling in Tripura recorded an 89.96 % turn out. This is not exactly a record turn-out. It means 10 % of 25.73 lakh or 2.5 lakh people (approximately) never turned up to vote. Considering that Tripura is one of the few states with high voter literacy and since both the Left Front and the BJP have undertaken considerable booth management exercises, the turn-out is rather dismal. Be that as it may, Tripura&rsquo;s fate is now sealed. We have to wait till March 3 for the verdict.&nbsp;

But until yesterday, Manik Sarkar, Tripura&rsquo;s chief minister till date and for the last 20 years confidently claimed that the Left Front would return to power even as BJP stalwarts in Tripura countered his claims and say the voters will decide whether they want to be stuck with a non-delivering socialistic paradigm or a development-oriented government that people have been deprived of for several decades. Prime Minister Modi made a special appeal to the voters of Tripura to come out and vote for the BJP which promises &#39;Change&#39;.

The BJP has made a clutter of promises from the universal health insurance to farm loan waiver and smartphone for youths to direct funding for ADC &ndash; 2018 and above all implementation of the 7th Pay Commission and enhanced daily wages to Rs 340 per day. Countering the BJP claims, working president of the Congress Party (which is now reduced to a complete non-entity and which might not get even a single seat this time), Pradyot Debbarma says the BJP is promising the moon but will find it hard to deliver. &ldquo;They are talking about the 7th Pay Commission here but have not implemented the same in Assam, Madhya Pradesh and other BJP-ruled states. The daily wages under MNREGA in Assam where BJP is ruling is Rs 170, so how can they pay Rs 340 in Tripura?&rdquo; The problem is that the Congress offers nothing better except to counter the BJP&rsquo;s claims.&nbsp;

This, in fact, is the problem with the Congress Party in the poll-bound states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. The Party has no vision for the region and the states. It has just been lambasting the BJP and voters are actually tired of these political slugfests on a daily basis. Rahul Gandhi, the AICC President, came to campaign in Tripura only on the penultimate date, 48 hours before polling. This has not enchanted people to vote for Congress.&nbsp;

In fact, the rise of the Left Parties in Tripura is proportionate to the failure of the Congress Party to win hearts and minds. From a movement initiated by enlightened youth in the 1940s the CPI which later morphed into the CPI (M), went on to form the first Left Front government in alliance with two other parties - the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and All India Forward Bloc in 1978. The Congress aligned with Tripura Upajati Juba Samiti (TUJS) &ndash; a party of the indigenous people of Tripura and defeated the Left Front in 1988. But this coalition was short-lived. By the next election in 1993, the Left Front returned to power.

Much has been said about Manik Sarkar&rsquo;s honesty and him being the poorest chief minister of Tripura but this claim is busted by the Rose Valley chit fund scam where Sarkar&rsquo;s ministers were singed. The Company is alleged to have looted Rs 35 crore of public deposits, according to State Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha. No action taken against the accused has created disaffection in the depositors.

&nbsp;Moreover, the failure of the Left Front to address unemployment; its failure to attract industries for employment generation and a general sense that even the Digital India drive that has enabled the country to connect with the world, has not worked for Tripura and you have an anatomy of failed governance.

&nbsp;Then there is the infamous ruling by the Supreme Court where 10,323 government teachers were terminated because the state Education Department flouted the rules under which the teachers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan had to be recruited which required a certain qualification and three years of experience. The state created over 12 thousand non-teaching posts where they might have been rehabilitated but again the Supreme Court prevented the Government from going ahead with this plan. Hence, the 12,000 odd jobless people are bound to retaliate against the Government. Or that is what is expected in normal circumstances.

The Medical College started in Tripura, has not been functioning well and the BJP has called out all the scams that it has documented meticulously. To start industries in a Left-ruled state has always been a challenge because of the rent-seeking mafia. Hence industries that opened up with much fanfare quickly shut down because there was no scope for their enterprise to bloom in Tripura.

Tripura has about 8 lakh of unemployed youth and jobs in the government sector have stagnated. Government employees are still stuck with the 4th Pay Commission. Dissatisfaction is writ large on their faces. Meanwhile, the BJP has come in with a basketful of promises and hopes to cash in on this feeling of large-scale disaffection. The BJP used its students&rsquo; wing- the ABVP and the disciplined RSS machinery. They were able to build grassroots contact.

To add to this extensive exercise the BJP also flew in its central ministers. Prime Minister Modi flew in twice to Tripura. Amit Shah, the BJP President, organised mega rallies. Other senior ministers flew in and out of Tripura. So did the ministers from neighbouring Assam and Manipur, both BJP ruled states. It is alleged that the BJP also had the moolah which Manik Sarkar&rsquo;s Party could not afford. Political observers said, &ldquo;Never before have we seen four private planes parked at Agartala airport&quot;. Central ministers were literally flying in and out of Tripura.&nbsp;

So eager is the BJP to win this Left bastion that it has pulled out all the stops. It remains to be seen if this effort would pay dividends. The BJP has been pitching for change in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland.&nbsp;

What change party brings,&nbsp;will be revealed when and if the BJP comes to power? Until then the voters of Tripura must wait and watch. So to the two main political rivals!&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The BJP has come in with a basketful of promises and hopes to cash in on this feeling of large-scale disaffection in Tripura.

Polling in Tripura recorded an 89.96 % turn out. This is not exactly a record turn-out. It means 10 % of 25.73 lakh or 2.5 lakh people (approximately) never turned up to vote. Considering that Tripura is one of the few states with high voter literacy and since both the Left Front and the BJP have undertaken considerable booth management exercises, the turn-out is rather dismal. Be that as it may, Tripura’s fate is now sealed. We have to wait till March 3 for the verdict. But until yesterday, Manik Sarkar, Tripura’s chief minister till date and for the last 20 years confidently claimed that the Left Front would return to power even as BJP stalwarts in Tripura countered his claims and say the voters will decide whether they want to be stuck with a non-delivering socialistic paradigm or a development-oriented government that people have been deprived of for several decades. Prime Minister Modi made a special appeal to the voters of Tripura to come out and vote for the BJP which promises 'Change'. The BJP has made a clutter of promises from the universal health insurance to farm loan waiver and smartphone for youths to direct funding for ADC – 2018 and above all implementation of the 7th Pay Commission and enhanced daily wages to Rs 340 per day. Countering the BJP claims, working president of the Congress Party (which is now reduced to a complete non-entity and which might not get even a single seat this time), Pradyot Debbarma says the BJP is promising the moon but will find it hard to deliver. “They are talking about the 7th Pay Commission here but have not implemented the same in Assam, Madhya Pradesh and other BJP-ruled states. The daily wages under MNREGA in Assam where BJP is ruling is Rs 170, so how can they pay Rs 340 in Tripura?” The problem is that the Congress offers nothing better except to counter the BJP’s claims. This, in fact, is the problem with the Congress Party in the poll-bound states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. The Party has no vision for the region and the states. It has just been lambasting the BJP and voters are actually tired of these political slugfests on a daily basis. Rahul Gandhi, the AICC President, came to campaign in Tripura only on the penultimate date, 48 hours before polling. This has not enchanted people to vote for Congress. In fact, the rise of the Left Parties in Tripura is proportionate to the failure of the Congress Party to win hearts and minds. From a movement initiated by enlightened youth in the 1940s the CPI which later morphed into the CPI (M), went on to form the first Left Front government in alliance with two other parties - the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and All India Forward Bloc in 1978. The Congress aligned with Tripura Upajati Juba Samiti (TUJS) – a party of the indigenous people of Tripura and defeated the Left Front in 1988. But this coalition was short-lived. By the next election in 1993, the Left Front returned to power. Much has been said about Manik Sarkar’s honesty and him being the poorest chief minister of Tripura but this claim is busted by the Rose Valley chit fund scam where Sarkar’s ministers were singed. The Company is alleged to have looted Rs 35 crore of public deposits, according to State Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha. No action taken against the accused has created disaffection in the depositors. Moreover, the failure of the Left Front to address unemployment; its failure to attract industries for employment generation and a general sense that even the Digital India drive that has enabled the country to connect with the world, has not worked for Tripura and you have an anatomy of failed governance. Then there is the infamous ruling by the Supreme Court where 10,323 government teachers were terminated because the state Education Department flouted the rules under which the teachers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan had to be recruited which required a certain qualification and three years of experience. The state created over 12 thousand non-teaching posts where they might have been rehabilitated but again the Supreme Court prevented the Government from going ahead with this plan. Hence, the 12,000 odd jobless people are bound to retaliate against the Government. Or that is what is expected in normal circumstances. The Medical College started in Tripura, has not been functioning well and the BJP has called out all the scams that it has documented meticulously. To start industries in a Left-ruled state has always been a challenge because of the rent-seeking mafia. Hence industries that opened up with much fanfare quickly shut down because there was no scope for their enterprise to bloom in Tripura. Tripura has about 8 lakh of unemployed youth and jobs in the government sector have stagnated. Government employees are still stuck with the 4th Pay Commission. Dissatisfaction is writ large on their faces. Meanwhile, the BJP has come in with a basketful of promises and hopes to cash in on this feeling of large-scale disaffection. The BJP used its students’ wing- the ABVP and the disciplined RSS machinery. They were able to build grassroots contact. To add to this extensive exercise the BJP also flew in its central ministers. Prime Minister Modi flew in twice to Tripura. Amit Shah, the BJP President, organised mega rallies. Other senior ministers flew in and out of Tripura. So did the ministers from neighbouring Assam and Manipur, both BJP ruled states. It is alleged that the BJP also had the moolah which Manik Sarkar’s Party could not afford. Political observers said, “Never before have we seen four private planes parked at Agartala airport". Central ministers were literally flying in and out of Tripura. So eager is the BJP to win this Left bastion that it has pulled out all the stops. It remains to be seen if this effort would pay dividends. The BJP has been pitching for change in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland. What change party brings, will be revealed when and if the BJP comes to power? Until then the voters of Tripura must wait and watch. So to the two main political rivals! (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Tripura is disappointed with Left but can BJP do better?

An impressive 89.8 per cent of the over 25.73 lakh electors came out to vote in Sunday&#39;s Tripura assembly elections, the Election Commission(EC) said today.&nbsp;

The Election Commission based on details made available by local poll authorities&nbsp;had earlier put the figure at 76 per cent.&nbsp;

A spokesperson said today that the &quot;final figure&quot; is 89.80 per cent.&nbsp;

In the last Assembly elections, the voter turnout was recorded at 91.82 per cent, while in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was 84.32 per cent.&nbsp;

The polling for 59 seats of the 60-member Assembly was held peacefully with thousands of central paramilitary forces fanning across the northeastern state.&nbsp;

There were reports of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at some polling stations which were rectified. Polling could not be held in Charilam constituency due to the death of CPM candidate Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma last week.&nbsp;

The constituency will go to polls on March 12. The BJP, hitherto an &quot;also ran&quot; in the border state, has emerged as the key challenger to the CPM-led Left Front, which has remained unvanquished in the last five Assembly elections.&nbsp;

Manik Sarkar, one of the most enduring icons of the CPM, has led the state for the last four terms. The Congress, which has been marginalised in Tripura, was last in power between February 1988 and March 1993. It is contesting 59 seats and had not fielded candidate for Kakrabon constituency.&nbsp;

The BJP, which has been rapidly expanding its footprint in the northeast, with the party already in power in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, has forged an alliance with Indigenous People&#39;s Front of Tripura (IPFT), an anti-Left party.

The BJP has fielded candidates in 51 places, while its ally is contesting the remaining nine seats.

In the last Assembly elections, the voter turnout was recorded at 91.82 per cent, while in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was 84.32 per cent.

An impressive 89.8 per cent of the over 25.73 lakh electors came out to vote in Sunday's Tripura assembly elections, the Election Commission(EC) said today. The Election Commission based on details made available by local poll authorities had earlier put the figure at 76 per cent. A spokesperson said today that the "final figure" is 89.80 per cent. In the last Assembly elections, the voter turnout was recorded at 91.82 per cent, while in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was 84.32 per cent. The polling for 59 seats of the 60-member Assembly was held peacefully with thousands of central paramilitary forces fanning across the northeastern state. There were reports of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at some polling stations which were rectified. Polling could not be held in Charilam constituency due to the death of CPM candidate Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma last week. The constituency will go to polls on March 12. The BJP, hitherto an "also ran" in the border state, has emerged as the key challenger to the CPM-led Left Front, which has remained unvanquished in the last five Assembly elections. Manik Sarkar, one of the most enduring icons of the CPM, has led the state for the last four terms. The Congress, which has been marginalised in Tripura, was last in power between February 1988 and March 1993. It is contesting 59 seats and had not fielded candidate for Kakrabon constituency. The BJP, which has been rapidly expanding its footprint in the northeast, with the party already in power in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, has forged an alliance with Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), an anti-Left party. The BJP has fielded candidates in 51 places, while its ally is contesting the remaining nine seats.

89.8 per cent polling in Tripura: Election Commission

About 65% voter turnout was recorded till 3:00 pm in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/tripura-goes-to-polls-left-front-faces-stiffest-challenge-in-25-years-from-bjp-33214" target="_blank">Tripura as the state went to polls</a> on Sunday.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TripuraElection2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TripuraElection2018</a>: 65% voter turnout till 3.00pm
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/965173263159709696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is an MLA from Dhanpur constituency, also cast his ballot at a polling booth in Agartala.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to give the Left Front its stiffest challenge in 25 years.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his Twitter this morning appealed people to exercise their franchise.&nbsp;

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I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turnout in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections.
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/965042102739415040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turn out in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections,&quot; Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted early Sunday morning.&nbsp;

The polling is scheduled from 7 am to 4 pm in evening, with 25.6 lakh voters deciding if Tripura stays with the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-20-years-in-power-tripura-cm-manik-sarkar-has-rs-2410-in-bank-31864" target="_blank"> Left Front</a> or takes a right turn.

Nearly 292 candidates are contesting for 59 of the state&#39;s 60 constituencies.&nbsp;

Voting for the Charilam Assembly constituency will be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPM candidate.&nbsp;

The BJP is contesting from 51 seats and has given nine seats to its ally, the Indigenous People&rsquo;s Front of Tripura (IPFT).&nbsp;

Congress candidates have filed nominations from 59 constituencies, while 24 Trinamool Congress members are in the fray.

The results of the polling will be declared on March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya.

The polling is scheduled from 7 am to 4 pm in evening, with 25.6 lakh voters deciding if Tripura stays with the Left Front or takes a right turn

About 65% voter turnout was recorded till 3:00 pm in Tripura as the state went to polls on Sunday. #TripuraElection2018: 65% voter turnout till 3.00pm — ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018 × Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is an MLA from Dhanpur constituency, also cast his ballot at a polling booth in Agartala. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to give the Left Front its stiffest challenge in 25 years. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his Twitter this morning appealed people to exercise their franchise. I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turnout in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 18, 2018 × "I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turn out in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted early Sunday morning. The polling is scheduled from 7 am to 4 pm in evening, with 25.6 lakh voters deciding if Tripura stays with the Left Front or takes a right turn. Nearly 292 candidates are contesting for 59 of the state's 60 constituencies. Voting for the Charilam Assembly constituency will be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPM candidate. The BJP is contesting from 51 seats and has given nine seats to its ally, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT). Congress candidates have filed nominations from 59 constituencies, while 24 Trinamool Congress members are in the fray. The results of the polling will be declared on March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya.

Tripura records 65% voter turnout till 3 pm

Even a year ago, it would have been outlandish to suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party had any prospect in the Tripura. The State has been a Left stronghold where the communists have been ruling for more than two decades. The only other major party, the Congress, has been pushed to the margins. Besides, its general demographic does not lend itself to the kind of political ideology the BJP pursues. However, the situation has changed dramatically over the last few months, and the BJP now senses a real chance at toppling the Left regime. Even those political observers who are doubtful of a BJP win in the State, concede that the party will emerge as a strong force in the Assembly election.

&nbsp;

What has brought about this change?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The anti-incumbency factor is certainly one reason. In the absence of a viable opposition, the Left had a clear field and it made most of it in the last 20 years. With the BJP&rsquo;s emergence, the ground situation has altered. The second reason is the BJP&rsquo;s relentless focus on the North-East &mdash; politically and otherwise. Its victory in the Assam Assembly election, where it demolished the ruling Congress, had set the tone for its push in the region. It managed to form the Government in Arunachal Pradesh through deft manoeuvrings, and then in Manipur where it was not even the single largest party, when it outfoxed the Congress by stitching an alliance in double quick time.

&nbsp;

The third reason is that the BJP has shown remarkable flexibility in dealing with ground realities in the region. For instance, while it aggressively pursues the cow agenda across the country, it has toned down the rhetoric in the North-East, saying that it does not want to interfere in the eating habits of the people there. The party has also been prompt in having an understanding with regional outfits that wield influence over tribes and communities specific to the region. And so, while it was at the helm of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) which it formed a couple of years ago, the real players are the regional parties. The BJP realises that it cannot make an impact on its own in many parts of the region.

&nbsp;

The BJP&rsquo;s pre-poll surge in Tripura is even more remarkable when one looks back at its past performance. In the 2013 Assembly election, the party had less than two per cent of the vote-share. There was a significant improvement in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, when the party gained a six per cent share. But even that was less than half of the Congress&rsquo;s 16 per cent and the Left&rsquo;s overwhelming 65 per cent. Going by these figures, the BJP ought to have conceded the present contest even before it began. But the change in the public mood &mdash; at least the one gleans through media reports from the ground &mdash; has been so remarkable that the old numbers don&rsquo;t count.

&nbsp;

As has been its habit, the BJP has gone for the kill. Party president Amit Shah has camped in Tripura for long periods, overseeing the election campaign and, in his characteristic style, delving into the micro-management of the process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invested politically too, addressing far more rallies than would be normally necessary for a small State such as this. The BJP in charge of the North-East, Ram Madhav, virtually resides in Tripura. Everybody understands that, for public sentiment against the Left regime to be converted into votes for the BJP, the party&rsquo;s poll machinery has to work without tripping &mdash; more so at the last moment.

&nbsp;

The BJP is dependending heavily on the 30 per cent of the tribal votes, and keeping that in mind, is pushing the development agenda call. The tribal regions are among the most affected by non-development. It has tied up with a regional outfit, the Indigenous People&rsquo;s Front of Tripura, that commands some standing among the tribals. But the party is not ignoring the other voters, reminding them that decades of Left rule had pushed the State back while BJP-ruled parts of the country had surged ahead in the last four years of the NDA rule.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Left understands the challenge, and it has fallen back on the tried and tested formula of &lsquo;communism versus communalism&rsquo; narrative. The communists have warned the voters against the dangers of social unrest and communal strife that could come along with a BJP win. They have highlighted the various pro-poor measures that the Manik Sarkar Government has taken over the years. The Left&rsquo;s desperation to retain Tripura is understandable. It has lost its earlier citadel, West Bengal, and rules only in Kerala &mdash; and even there the BJP has begun breathing down its neck, although the Congress still remains the main opposition.

&nbsp;

The Left&rsquo;s track record of development in Tripura is being severely tested. Both the plains and hills have their own sets of problems. Unemployment, lack of road and rail connectivity, poor industrial development, and lack of avenues of opportunities for tribals to improve their living, are some of the major issues. But the communists have some positives going for them. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar enjoys a clean personal image. He has steered Tripura to political stability and has ensured that basic social indices remain decent. No major scandal has hit his regime in the two decades of its rule. Besides, the Left has a strong cadre in the State and its supporters have seeped into nearly every institution, and have the capacity to turn things around.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

On the personality front, the BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s charisma, while the Left has its old warhorse and Chief Minister Sarkar. Left leaders on the national scene, such as Sitaram Yechury and Prakash Karat, hardly have any sway in Tripura. The BJP-led Government at the Centre has gone all out by way of its own contribution to the party&rsquo;s fortunes in the region. For instance, the Union Ministry of Textiles has planned a big push to textile manufacturing in the North-East, which would naturally include Tripura. Other Central ministries have promised loads of development work to the region. Underlying all these assurances is the thrust that a BJP regime in Tripura can gel better with the BJP-led Government at the Centre and, thus, expedite development.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If the Left can stave off this new and unexpected challenge, it will not just retain power but also perhaps cause a dent in the BJP&rsquo;s drive to politically secure the North-East.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In the upcoming Tripura election, BJP's trump card is development while Manik Sarkar's is that of a scandal-free clean image.

Even a year ago, it would have been outlandish to suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party had any prospect in the Tripura. The State has been a Left stronghold where the communists have been ruling for more than two decades. The only other major party, the Congress, has been pushed to the margins. Besides, its general demographic does not lend itself to the kind of political ideology the BJP pursues. However, the situation has changed dramatically over the last few months, and the BJP now senses a real chance at toppling the Left regime. Even those political observers who are doubtful of a BJP win in the State, concede that the party will emerge as a strong force in the Assembly election. What has brought about this change? The anti-incumbency factor is certainly one reason. In the absence of a viable opposition, the Left had a clear field and it made most of it in the last 20 years. With the BJP’s emergence, the ground situation has altered. The second reason is the BJP’s relentless focus on the North-East — politically and otherwise. Its victory in the Assam Assembly election, where it demolished the ruling Congress, had set the tone for its push in the region. It managed to form the Government in Arunachal Pradesh through deft manoeuvrings, and then in Manipur where it was not even the single largest party, when it outfoxed the Congress by stitching an alliance in double quick time. The third reason is that the BJP has shown remarkable flexibility in dealing with ground realities in the region. For instance, while it aggressively pursues the cow agenda across the country, it has toned down the rhetoric in the North-East, saying that it does not want to interfere in the eating habits of the people there. The party has also been prompt in having an understanding with regional outfits that wield influence over tribes and communities specific to the region. And so, while it was at the helm of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) which it formed a couple of years ago, the real players are the regional parties. The BJP realises that it cannot make an impact on its own in many parts of the region. The BJP’s pre-poll surge in Tripura is even more remarkable when one looks back at its past performance. In the 2013 Assembly election, the party had less than two per cent of the vote-share. There was a significant improvement in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, when the party gained a six per cent share. But even that was less than half of the Congress’s 16 per cent and the Left’s overwhelming 65 per cent. Going by these figures, the BJP ought to have conceded the present contest even before it began. But the change in the public mood — at least the one gleans through media reports from the ground — has been so remarkable that the old numbers don’t count. As has been its habit, the BJP has gone for the kill. Party president Amit Shah has camped in Tripura for long periods, overseeing the election campaign and, in his characteristic style, delving into the micro-management of the process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invested politically too, addressing far more rallies than would be normally necessary for a small State such as this. The BJP in charge of the North-East, Ram Madhav, virtually resides in Tripura. Everybody understands that, for public sentiment against the Left regime to be converted into votes for the BJP, the party’s poll machinery has to work without tripping — more so at the last moment. The BJP is dependending heavily on the 30 per cent of the tribal votes, and keeping that in mind, is pushing the development agenda call. The tribal regions are among the most affected by non-development. It has tied up with a regional outfit, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura, that commands some standing among the tribals. But the party is not ignoring the other voters, reminding them that decades of Left rule had pushed the State back while BJP-ruled parts of the country had surged ahead in the last four years of the NDA rule. The Left understands the challenge, and it has fallen back on the tried and tested formula of ‘communism versus communalism’ narrative. The communists have warned the voters against the dangers of social unrest and communal strife that could come along with a BJP win. They have highlighted the various pro-poor measures that the Manik Sarkar Government has taken over the years. The Left’s desperation to retain Tripura is understandable. It has lost its earlier citadel, West Bengal, and rules only in Kerala — and even there the BJP has begun breathing down its neck, although the Congress still remains the main opposition. The Left’s track record of development in Tripura is being severely tested. Both the plains and hills have their own sets of problems. Unemployment, lack of road and rail connectivity, poor industrial development, and lack of avenues of opportunities for tribals to improve their living, are some of the major issues. But the communists have some positives going for them. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar enjoys a clean personal image. He has steered Tripura to political stability and has ensured that basic social indices remain decent. No major scandal has hit his regime in the two decades of its rule. Besides, the Left has a strong cadre in the State and its supporters have seeped into nearly every institution, and have the capacity to turn things around. On the personality front, the BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma, while the Left has its old warhorse and Chief Minister Sarkar. Left leaders on the national scene, such as Sitaram Yechury and Prakash Karat, hardly have any sway in Tripura. The BJP-led Government at the Centre has gone all out by way of its own contribution to the party’s fortunes in the region. For instance, the Union Ministry of Textiles has planned a big push to textile manufacturing in the North-East, which would naturally include Tripura. Other Central ministries have promised loads of development work to the region. Underlying all these assurances is the thrust that a BJP regime in Tripura can gel better with the BJP-led Government at the Centre and, thus, expedite development. If the Left can stave off this new and unexpected challenge, it will not just retain power but also perhaps cause a dent in the BJP’s drive to politically secure the North-East. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Modi vs Manik Sarkar battle about to start in Tripura

With assets worth Rs 177 crore, Andhra Pradesh&#39;s Chandrababu Naidu is the richest chief minister in India.&nbsp;

The other chief ministers named in this exclusive club are of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu with worth Rs 129 crore and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, who has Rs 48 crore to his name.

Meanwhile, the poorest among all is Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, with assets valued just over Rs 26 lakh.&nbsp;

The analysis was conducted by transparency body Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR)

The other crorepati chief ministers are Telengana&#39;s K Chandrashekhar Rao with assets worth Rs 15.15 crore, Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma with Rs 14.50 crore.&nbsp;

The BJP, which has governments in 18 states, does not have a single CM in the top ten list as six out of the top ten richest CMs are from the Congress and the rest belong to the TDP, TRS, BJD and SDF.&nbsp;

Out of 31 CMs in India, 25 are crorepatis (with assets exceeding Rs 1 crore).

Next to Manik Sarkar on the poorest CMs list is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with only moveable assets worth Rs 30.45 lakh.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is the third poorest CM with total assets worth Rs 55.96 lakh.&nbsp;

Haryana CM Manoharlal Khattar stands at Rs 61.29 lakh and Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das is with Rs 72.72 lakh, becoming the fourth and fifth poor CMs&#39; respectively.&nbsp;

The analysis was conducted by transparency body Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR)

With assets worth Rs 177 crore, Andhra Pradesh's Chandrababu Naidu is the richest chief minister in India. The other chief ministers named in this exclusive club are of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu with worth Rs 129 crore and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, who has Rs 48 crore to his name. Meanwhile, the poorest among all is Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, with assets valued just over Rs 26 lakh. The analysis was conducted by transparency body Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) The other crorepati chief ministers are Telengana's K Chandrashekhar Rao with assets worth Rs 15.15 crore, Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma with Rs 14.50 crore. The BJP, which has governments in 18 states, does not have a single CM in the top ten list as six out of the top ten richest CMs are from the Congress and the rest belong to the TDP, TRS, BJD and SDF. Out of 31 CMs in India, 25 are crorepatis (with assets exceeding Rs 1 crore). Next to Manik Sarkar on the poorest CMs list is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with only moveable assets worth Rs 30.45 lakh. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is the third poorest CM with total assets worth Rs 55.96 lakh. Haryana CM Manoharlal Khattar stands at Rs 61.29 lakh and Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das is with Rs 72.72 lakh, becoming the fourth and fifth poor CMs' respectively.

Chandrababu Naidu tops richest chief ministers' list, Manik Sarkar among poorest: Report

It&rsquo;s election season for the three North Eastern states of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya. While voting in Tripura is scheduled for February 18, Nagaland and Meghalaya will go to the polls on February 27. In Tripura, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has had an uninterrupted rule of 25 years. Its chief minister Manik Sarkar is dubbed as the poorest of the chief ministers in the region. The CPI (M) draws its strength from its cadres who fan out into the districts and rural outback of Tripura. This is also the only state in the region where people have ideological leanings towards the Left Parties. So much so that the Congress has all but withered here! Even the Trinamool Congress has an insignificant presence in Tripura. &nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;

Perhaps, the only reason why the Congress continues to have some presence in Tripura is that the ruling scion of the Tripura royal family, Pradyot Debbarma has patronised the Party and is its Working President, although for reasons that are unclear Debbarma has never taken the electoral plunge. This time too, he has let the election pass him by. Sources say he is waiting for a Rajya Sabha nomination from the Congress Party, now that its fortunes are on the upswing. Pradyot Debbarma is a tribal and commands respect amongst the tribes of Tripura.

&nbsp;

It is the BJP&rsquo;s advent in Tripura and its ability to mobilise voters at the booth level &ndash; its inherent strength - that appears to be giving the CPI(M) a headache this time. That the BJP has been able to contest from 51 out of 60 seats is quite a feat. The BJP has struck a deal with the Indigenous People&rsquo;s Front of Tripura (IPFT) which is contesting from 9 seats, mainly reserved for scheduled tribes. The Congress is contesting from 59 seats, the CPI (M) from 57 seats leaving the other three seats for its Left Front partners the CPI, Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party, while the Trinamool is has set up 24 candidates.

&nbsp;

Prime Minister Modi who was in Tripura on Thursday has promised to deliver it from a regime that has kept people at subsistence level &ndash;a socialist trademark. He has committed three T&rsquo;s, Trade, Training and Tourism, for jump-starting development in Tripura. Twenty-five years is a long time for any government and change seems imminent what with the BJP putting its best foot forward in the state. This time it may no longer be a cakewalk for Manik Sarkar in his bastion of a quarter century.

&nbsp;

In the tribal states of Nagaland and Meghalaya elections are not won by political parties but by personalities. He who has the money wins the votes. People jump in and out of parties without any qualms. A person who is denied a ticket from the BJP will coolly jump to the Congress camp the next day and be given a ticket to contest the election. But this also means that there are few takers for the Congress ticket this time especially in Meghalaya where the Party is fighting anti-incumbency. Money plays a big role in the elections in both states but more so in Nagaland where the stakes are high and voters openly demand a price for their votes. No amount of vigilance from the Election Commission can reduce election spending in both states.

&nbsp;

In Meghalaya, the BJP is contesting from 47 constituencies while the Congress has set up candidates in all 60 seats. The National People&rsquo;s Party (NPP) founded by the former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, PA Sangma has fielded 53 candidates. In all probability, the NPP will emerge as the single largest party but whether it will get a majority is doubtful.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The NPP is known to keep its options open for a tie-up with the BJP and perhaps a few Independents and some from the regional parties too. But whether that sort of hybrid government will bring stability to Meghalaya is a conundrum that will face the people of Meghalaya. This state has witnessed political instability since its inception. Governments and chief ministers come and go, sometimes thrice in a tenure of five years. One thing that the outgoing Mukul Sangma government has given to Meghalaya is political stability in the last five years and a period of relative peace.

&nbsp;

In Nagaland, things are in a state of great flux and people are confused what with a new party being set up by former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio &ndash; the Nagaland Democratic People&rsquo;s Party (NDPP) a breakaway faction from the Naga People&rsquo;s Front led by octogenarian Shurhozelie. The BJP is a big player now in Nagaland with central ministers landing there in hordes to capture the political space.

&nbsp;

For the voters, political parties are all the same. Cynicism clouds the political landscape even as voters realise nothing will change in the next five years except the faces that will run the government. So they have learned to make capital out of the election season.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

BJP is set to give a headache to Manik Sarkar in Tripura, emerge as a big player in Nagaland, and in Meghalaya, the Party may tie up with the largest regional party the NPP.

It’s election season for the three North Eastern states of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya. While voting in Tripura is scheduled for February 18, Nagaland and Meghalaya will go to the polls on February 27. In Tripura, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has had an uninterrupted rule of 25 years. Its chief minister Manik Sarkar is dubbed as the poorest of the chief ministers in the region. The CPI (M) draws its strength from its cadres who fan out into the districts and rural outback of Tripura. This is also the only state in the region where people have ideological leanings towards the Left Parties. So much so that the Congress has all but withered here! Even the Trinamool Congress has an insignificant presence in Tripura. Perhaps, the only reason why the Congress continues to have some presence in Tripura is that the ruling scion of the Tripura royal family, Pradyot Debbarma has patronised the Party and is its Working President, although for reasons that are unclear Debbarma has never taken the electoral plunge. This time too, he has let the election pass him by. Sources say he is waiting for a Rajya Sabha nomination from the Congress Party, now that its fortunes are on the upswing. Pradyot Debbarma is a tribal and commands respect amongst the tribes of Tripura. It is the BJP’s advent in Tripura and its ability to mobilise voters at the booth level – its inherent strength - that appears to be giving the CPI(M) a headache this time. That the BJP has been able to contest from 51 out of 60 seats is quite a feat. The BJP has struck a deal with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) which is contesting from 9 seats, mainly reserved for scheduled tribes. The Congress is contesting from 59 seats, the CPI (M) from 57 seats leaving the other three seats for its Left Front partners the CPI, Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party, while the Trinamool is has set up 24 candidates. Prime Minister Modi who was in Tripura on Thursday has promised to deliver it from a regime that has kept people at subsistence level –a socialist trademark. He has committed three T’s, Trade, Training and Tourism, for jump-starting development in Tripura. Twenty-five years is a long time for any government and change seems imminent what with the BJP putting its best foot forward in the state. This time it may no longer be a cakewalk for Manik Sarkar in his bastion of a quarter century. In the tribal states of Nagaland and Meghalaya elections are not won by political parties but by personalities. He who has the money wins the votes. People jump in and out of parties without any qualms. A person who is denied a ticket from the BJP will coolly jump to the Congress camp the next day and be given a ticket to contest the election. But this also means that there are few takers for the Congress ticket this time especially in Meghalaya where the Party is fighting anti-incumbency. Money plays a big role in the elections in both states but more so in Nagaland where the stakes are high and voters openly demand a price for their votes. No amount of vigilance from the Election Commission can reduce election spending in both states. In Meghalaya, the BJP is contesting from 47 constituencies while the Congress has set up candidates in all 60 seats. The National People’s Party (NPP) founded by the former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, PA Sangma has fielded 53 candidates. In all probability, the NPP will emerge as the single largest party but whether it will get a majority is doubtful. The NPP is known to keep its options open for a tie-up with the BJP and perhaps a few Independents and some from the regional parties too. But whether that sort of hybrid government will bring stability to Meghalaya is a conundrum that will face the people of Meghalaya. This state has witnessed political instability since its inception. Governments and chief ministers come and go, sometimes thrice in a tenure of five years. One thing that the outgoing Mukul Sangma government has given to Meghalaya is political stability in the last five years and a period of relative peace. In Nagaland, things are in a state of great flux and people are confused what with a new party being set up by former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio – the Nagaland Democratic People’s Party (NDPP) a breakaway faction from the Naga People’s Front led by octogenarian Shurhozelie. The BJP is a big player now in Nagaland with central ministers landing there in hordes to capture the political space. For the voters, political parties are all the same. Cynicism clouds the political landscape even as voters realise nothing will change in the next five years except the faces that will run the government. So they have learned to make capital out of the election season. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: In elections 2018, BJP set to gain grounds in Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland

Launching a scathing attack on the Tripura govt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the voters to throw out the Manik Sarkar-led Marxist government during a rally in Sonamura of Tripura.

&quot;Ab Manik nahi chahiye, Manik se mukti le lo, ab aapko hira chahiye. Hira ka H matlab Highway, I matlab I way(digital connectivity) ,R matlab Roadway, A matlab Airway&nbsp;(You don&#39;t&nbsp;need&nbsp;&#39;Manik&#39; anymore, now you people need&nbsp;HIRA &mdash; Highway, I way(digital connectivity), Roadways and Airways.),&quot; PM Modi said.

&nbsp;

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We are focussing on 3Ts for Tripura - Trade, Tourism, Training of the youth so that they get opportunities to shine: PM Modi <a href="https://t.co/3W3L4i5SZh">pic.twitter.com/3W3L4i5SZh</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/961507233057181696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Amidst huge crowd gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Tripura in their local language.

Afterwards, he will also conduct a rally in Kailashahar of Tripura.&nbsp;

Modi&rsquo;s election rally in the poll-bound Tripura comes a day after the PM lashed out at the opposition Congress in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday.&nbsp;

BJP is leaving no stone unturned to grab power in the state, which is arguably the last Left bastion in the country.

The hill state in the North East, bordered on three sides by Bangladesh, has been kept under a thick security blanket ahead of Modi&rsquo;s arrival.

This is PM Modi&rsquo;s first political rally in Tripura after he became the Prime Minister in 2014.

Amidst huge crowd gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Tripura in their local language.

Launching a scathing attack on the Tripura govt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the voters to throw out the Manik Sarkar-led Marxist government during a rally in Sonamura of Tripura. "Ab Manik nahi chahiye, Manik se mukti le lo, ab aapko hira chahiye. Hira ka H matlab Highway, I matlab I way(digital connectivity) ,R matlab Roadway, A matlab Airway (You don't need 'Manik' anymore, now you people need HIRA — Highway, I way(digital connectivity), Roadways and Airways.)," PM Modi said. We are focussing on 3Ts for Tripura - Trade, Tourism, Training of the youth so that they get opportunities to shine: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/3W3L4i5SZh — ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2018 × Amidst huge crowd gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Tripura in their local language. Afterwards, he will also conduct a rally in Kailashahar of Tripura. Modi’s election rally in the poll-bound Tripura comes a day after the PM lashed out at the opposition Congress in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday. BJP is leaving no stone unturned to grab power in the state, which is arguably the last Left bastion in the country. The hill state in the North East, bordered on three sides by Bangladesh, has been kept under a thick security blanket ahead of Modi’s arrival. This is PM Modi’s first political rally in Tripura after he became the Prime Minister in 2014.

Throw Manik, embrace 'HIRA': PM tells voters in Tripura

Manik Sarkar, the chief minister of the poll-bound state Tripura has cash amounting to a little over Rs 3500.&nbsp;

He has Rs 1,520 in hand and Rs 2410 in the bank.

The valuation&nbsp;was revealed on January 29,&nbsp;when Manik submitted his nomination papers to the Election Commission from Dhanpur Assembly constituency.&nbsp;

The affidavit released by him also shows a dip in his bank account from previous years. In 2013 elections, his affidavit showed Rs 9,720.38 in his account.

He also owns Rs 0.0118 acres of land in Krishnanagar.

Also,&nbsp;there is no mention of any vehicle in the affidavit.&nbsp;

While his wife, who is a retired central government officer has Rs 20, 140 in cash and Rs 12, 15, 714.78 in the bank account and fixed deposits.&nbsp;She also owns 20 gm of jewellery which approximately accounts for Rs 60, 000.&nbsp;

The CPI(M) leader has held the position of the chief minister for the state since 1998. He won the election from his constituency in Sipahijala district for four consecutive terms.&nbsp; 
 
The Northeastern state Tripura is all set for the assembly election which is scheduled for February 18.

&nbsp;

Sarkar's nomination papers to the Election Commission claim he has Rs 1,520 cash in hand

Manik Sarkar, the chief minister of the poll-bound state Tripura has cash amounting to a little over Rs 3500. He has Rs 1,520 in hand and Rs 2410 in the bank. The valuation was revealed on January 29, when Manik submitted his nomination papers to the Election Commission from Dhanpur Assembly constituency. The affidavit released by him also shows a dip in his bank account from previous years. In 2013 elections, his affidavit showed Rs 9,720.38 in his account. He also owns Rs 0.0118 acres of land in Krishnanagar. Also, there is no mention of any vehicle in the affidavit. While his wife, who is a retired central government officer has Rs 20, 140 in cash and Rs 12, 15, 714.78 in the bank account and fixed deposits. She also owns 20 gm of jewellery which approximately accounts for Rs 60, 000. The CPI(M) leader has held the position of the chief minister for the state since 1998. He won the election from his constituency in Sipahijala district for four consecutive terms. The Northeastern state Tripura is all set for the assembly election which is scheduled for February 18.

After 20 years in power, Tripura CM Manik Sarkar's bank balance? Rs 2,410

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday accused the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Tripura of running a &ldquo;corrupt and violent&rdquo; government.

&ldquo;The people have to get rid of poverty and unemployment. Only one man should stay unemployed - Manik Sarkar, take away his job. He runs a corrupt government and a violent Government,&rdquo; Madhav said while addressing a gathering ahead of the assembly election in the state.

Further mocking the state government, the national general secretary of the BJP lauded the people of Tripura for &ldquo;tolerating the misrule&rdquo; of the CPI (M) for the past 25 years.

&ldquo;It is time to do away with the government which has left the people poor, devoid of development, a government which could not protect the women of its state,&rdquo; he said.

Tripura will go to polls on February 18 and the results for the same will be declared on March 3.

The CPI (M) has a strong foothold in the state and is in power for past 25 years while the incumbent Manik Sarkar is at the helm for 19 years.

Tripura will go to polls on February 18 and the results for the same will be declared on March 3

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday accused the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Tripura of running a “corrupt and violent” government. “The people have to get rid of poverty and unemployment. Only one man should stay unemployed - Manik Sarkar, take away his job. He runs a corrupt government and a violent Government,” Madhav said while addressing a gathering ahead of the assembly election in the state. Further mocking the state government, the national general secretary of the BJP lauded the people of Tripura for “tolerating the misrule” of the CPI (M) for the past 25 years. “It is time to do away with the government which has left the people poor, devoid of development, a government which could not protect the women of its state,” he said. Tripura will go to polls on February 18 and the results for the same will be declared on March 3. The CPI (M) has a strong foothold in the state and is in power for past 25 years while the incumbent Manik Sarkar is at the helm for 19 years.

Ram Madhav accuses Manik Sarkar of running 'corrupt, violent' government

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/better-that-someone-sells-pakodas-than-begs-amit-shah-in-parliament-31850">Better </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/better-that-someone-sells-pakodas-than-begs-amit-shah-in-parliament-31850">that</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/better-that-someone-sells-pakodas-than-begs-amit-shah-in-parliament-31850"> someone sells </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/better-that-someone-sells-pakodas-than-begs-amit-shah-in-parliament-31850">pakodas</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/better-that-someone-sells-pakodas-than-begs-amit-shah-in-parliament-31850"> than begs: Amit Shah in Parliament</a>

It took a lot of time for this government to fill the &quot;hole&quot; it inherited from its predecessor, BJP President Amit Shah said in the Rajya Sabha Monday. Shah was making his debut speech in Parliament.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gurgaon-school-murder-case-cbi-says-fingerprints-of-juvenile-accused-found-at-crime-scene-31867">Gurgaon school murder case: CBI says fingerprints of juvenile accused found at crime scene</a>

The CBI filed a 1,000-page charge sheet in the Gurgaon school murder case on Monday.&nbsp;

The charge sheet says the fingerprints of the juvenile accused were found at the crime scene. And that the source of the murder weapon -- a knife -- has been identified.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-20-years-in-power-tripura-cm-manik-sarkar-has-rs-2410-in-bank-31864">After 20 years in power, Tripura CM Manik Sarkar has Rs 2,410 in the bank</a>

Manik Sarkar, the chief minister of the poll-bound state Tripura has cash amounting to a little over Rs 3500.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-extends-fall-bonds-slip-rupee-flat-31854">Sensex falls for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-extends-fall-bonds-slip-rupee-flat-31854">fifth</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-extends-fall-bonds-slip-rupee-flat-31854"> day in a row, closes at 34,757</a>

Indian shares fell for a fifth straight session on Monday, with the broader NSE index hitting its lowest in a month, as Asian shares slumped, while worries remained that the Reserve Bank of India would turn more hawkish at its policy meeting later this week.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/political-crisis-in-maldives-continues-demand-for-presidents-resignation-grows-31869">Political crisis in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/political-crisis-in-maldives-continues-demand-for-presidents-resignation-grows-31869">Maldives</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/political-crisis-in-maldives-continues-demand-for-presidents-resignation-grows-31869"> continues, demand for President&#39;s resignation grows</a>

Maldives capital Male continues to remain tense, with the opposition and general public unrelentingly asking President Yameen to step down and allow a new leadership to take charge.

Better that someone sells pakodas than begs: Amit Shah in Parliament It took a lot of time for this government to fill the "hole" it inherited from its predecessor, BJP President Amit Shah said in the Rajya Sabha Monday. Shah was making his debut speech in Parliament. Gurgaon school murder case: CBI says fingerprints of juvenile accused found at crime scene The CBI filed a 1,000-page charge sheet in the Gurgaon school murder case on Monday. The charge sheet says the fingerprints of the juvenile accused were found at the crime scene. And that the source of the murder weapon -- a knife -- has been identified. After 20 years in power, Tripura CM Manik Sarkar has Rs 2,410 in the bank Manik Sarkar, the chief minister of the poll-bound state Tripura has cash amounting to a little over Rs 3500. Sensex falls for fifth day in a row, closes at 34,757 Indian shares fell for a fifth straight session on Monday, with the broader NSE index hitting its lowest in a month, as Asian shares slumped, while worries remained that the Reserve Bank of India would turn more hawkish at its policy meeting later this week. Political crisis in Maldives continues, demand for President's resignation grows Maldives capital Male continues to remain tense, with the opposition and general public unrelentingly asking President Yameen to step down and allow a new leadership to take charge.

WION Evening News Brief, February 5, 2018

Dislodging rival regimes of recent origin in States through elections appears to have become a habit for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the past four years. Now it has set its sights on a more ambitious programme: Ousting the 20-year old Left Front Government in Tripura in an Assembly poll scheduled for sometime next month.&nbsp;

It&rsquo;s not going to be easy.&nbsp;

Left supporters dismiss the BJP&rsquo;s aspiration as impossible to achieve. They point to four factors. The first is the popularity of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar who has been at the helm for two decades. He is perceived as down-to-earth and humble, with no serious allegations against him.&nbsp;

The second is the BJP&rsquo;s organisational weakness. The party has never been in power in the State and, thus, has little grassroots structure. The third is the demography of the State which does not lend itself to the kind of &lsquo;social engineering&rsquo; the BJP has effectively managed in other States. And the fourth is the absence of any major public failing of the Sarkar Government that can be used to whip up electoral sentiment against the incumbent.

But there is another set of reasoning, which has buoyed the BJP. The party has in recent months made serious inroads in the North-East, establishing its governments in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and now formidably pursuing its interests in Meghalaya. It has a well-defined mechanism in the form of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) to enhance its footprint in the region.&nbsp;

The BJP has roped in various regional outfits of the North-East as part of this umbrella organisation. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has addressed several rallies in the region, and managed by influential local leaders, the roughly two-year-old NEDA is the anti-Congress vehicle that the BJP hopes to ride to the finishing line in Tripura.&nbsp;

Then there is the work of the RSS to fall back upon. Over the decades, this parent body of the larger Sangh family of which the BJP is a part, has been relentlessly working to enhance its influence among the locals in the North-East, including Tripura, playing on rival and religious affiliations. So far, all of this did not reflect positively on the electoral numbers for the BJP. In the changed political environment with a BJP-led regime at the Centre and the party&rsquo;s aggressive focus on the region, it is possible that some of that work could bear fruit.

There is also the anti-incumbency factor. Twenty years at a stretch is a long time for any party to rule without losing substantial support among the electorate &mdash; if not for anything else, because of a mere desire for &lsquo;change&rsquo;. Left Front supporters can seek to dismiss the thought by referring to &mdash; ironically &mdash; the Gujarat result, where the BJP retained power despite being in the driver&rsquo;s seat for two decades.&nbsp;

But, as any political analyst will tell, there is no comparison. Besides, the BJP did lose seats in comparison to 2012, and got past the half-way mark huffing and puffing. And, if the Left Front wishes so much to give the Gujarat example, it must remember that a significant section of the Patidar community, dedicated backers of the BJP, dumped the party and voted elsewhere.

It is, therefore, not impossible that many traditional supporters of the Left Front might vote against the communist combine in the changed political environment &mdash; both in the region and nationally. The mere fact that the coalition has entrenched itself for twenty years in the State offers no certainty of its return; remember, the Left combine was unceremoniously ousted in West Bengal after three decades of rule by Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress. Considered an upstart, Banerjee not just decimated the communists but also the Congress. Both have yet to recover from the drubbing in the State.

There is no doubting that the Left Front in Tripura recognises and understands the fresh challenge, though it publicly downplays the potency. According to some recent media reports, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told his party leaders that the BJP had emerged as their primary rival and should be accordingly dealt with. The party that threatens to get squeezed out in the contest is the Congress. Its State unit in a shambles with many desertions since the last year or so.&nbsp;

It&rsquo;s true that some of these dissidents have since returned or at least shown signs of supporting the Congress, but that could be a case of too little too late. The Congress is still dependant on patronage from elites, such as the scion of an erstwhile royal family. The last time the Congress had its Government in Tripura was in 1993 &mdash; that too a coalition &mdash; which had lasted just over a year. Since then, the party has been struggling to regain the lost ground. Now, its task has been made more difficult with the rise of the BJP in the region.&nbsp;

Essentially, the Tripura contest is one between two conflicting ideologies and sub-ideologies within the larger ideological framework. Manik Sarkar represents the Marxist image with a dose of the Gandhian spirit. The popular rhetoric of the working class uniting to stave off the evil capitalists has served him well all these years. But now it is confronted by an equally dominant and belligerent call of nationalism and regional pride made by the BJP and its affiliates.&nbsp;

With the Marxists consistently failing to find support, election after election in the country (barring in Kerala where it wins and loses in equal measure), their brand of politics is now seen as close to extinction. The new class of voters is unlikely to be as wedded to the Left doctrine as the earlier ones who imbibed the lofty ideals in the hope that a class-less society of equals could be crafted on the ruins of capitalism.

And then there are local issues. There is an impression that power, rather than being decentralised (to the masses, which Karl Marx dreamed of), has been centralised in the Left Front regime by a handful of leaders, with Manik Sarkar being in the forefront. There is virtually no internal democracy. On the governance front, people still bridle at the memory of the Left blunder in the recruitment of more than 10,000 teachers for Government schools in the State. The Tripura High Court had declared the recruitment as null and void, leading to enormous financial and social misery to the victims and their families. This could turn out to be an important election issue because the bulk of the &lsquo;working class&rsquo; which the Left banks upon to retain power, comes from the close to three lakh Government sector employees and pensioners.&nbsp;

Finally, there is the tribal factor. The BJP has especially targeted the State&rsquo;s four major tribal communities &mdash; Debbarma, Reang, Chakma, and Tripuri &mdash; which together account for 78 per cent of the total tribal population. The party recently sprung a unique depiction of Bharat Mata in the traditional attire of the four tribal communities, instead of in a saree as is usual.&nbsp;

The new Mother India now shares space with photographs of senior party leaders and founders, at various State party events. In all, the tribals form roughly 30 per cent of the State&rsquo;s population. From not having an option and, therefore, being taken for granted by the Left, the tribals are now being wooed assiduously by all political sections. It would not be hyperbolic to suggest that the tribal vote will determine the winner of the coming Assembly election in Tripura.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

It would not be hyperbolic to suggest that the tribal vote will determine the winner of the coming Assembly election in Tripura.

Dislodging rival regimes of recent origin in States through elections appears to have become a habit for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the past four years. Now it has set its sights on a more ambitious programme: Ousting the 20-year old Left Front Government in Tripura in an Assembly poll scheduled for sometime next month. It’s not going to be easy. Left supporters dismiss the BJP’s aspiration as impossible to achieve. They point to four factors. The first is the popularity of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar who has been at the helm for two decades. He is perceived as down-to-earth and humble, with no serious allegations against him. The second is the BJP’s organisational weakness. The party has never been in power in the State and, thus, has little grassroots structure. The third is the demography of the State which does not lend itself to the kind of ‘social engineering’ the BJP has effectively managed in other States. And the fourth is the absence of any major public failing of the Sarkar Government that can be used to whip up electoral sentiment against the incumbent. But there is another set of reasoning, which has buoyed the BJP. The party has in recent months made serious inroads in the North-East, establishing its governments in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and now formidably pursuing its interests in Meghalaya. It has a well-defined mechanism in the form of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) to enhance its footprint in the region. The BJP has roped in various regional outfits of the North-East as part of this umbrella organisation. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has addressed several rallies in the region, and managed by influential local leaders, the roughly two-year-old NEDA is the anti-Congress vehicle that the BJP hopes to ride to the finishing line in Tripura. Then there is the work of the RSS to fall back upon. Over the decades, this parent body of the larger Sangh family of which the BJP is a part, has been relentlessly working to enhance its influence among the locals in the North-East, including Tripura, playing on rival and religious affiliations. So far, all of this did not reflect positively on the electoral numbers for the BJP. In the changed political environment with a BJP-led regime at the Centre and the party’s aggressive focus on the region, it is possible that some of that work could bear fruit. There is also the anti-incumbency factor. Twenty years at a stretch is a long time for any party to rule without losing substantial support among the electorate — if not for anything else, because of a mere desire for ‘change’. Left Front supporters can seek to dismiss the thought by referring to — ironically — the Gujarat result, where the BJP retained power despite being in the driver’s seat for two decades. But, as any political analyst will tell, there is no comparison. Besides, the BJP did lose seats in comparison to 2012, and got past the half-way mark huffing and puffing. And, if the Left Front wishes so much to give the Gujarat example, it must remember that a significant section of the Patidar community, dedicated backers of the BJP, dumped the party and voted elsewhere. It is, therefore, not impossible that many traditional supporters of the Left Front might vote against the communist combine in the changed political environment — both in the region and nationally. The mere fact that the coalition has entrenched itself for twenty years in the State offers no certainty of its return; remember, the Left combine was unceremoniously ousted in West Bengal after three decades of rule by Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress. Considered an upstart, Banerjee not just decimated the communists but also the Congress. Both have yet to recover from the drubbing in the State. There is no doubting that the Left Front in Tripura recognises and understands the fresh challenge, though it publicly downplays the potency. According to some recent media reports, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told his party leaders that the BJP had emerged as their primary rival and should be accordingly dealt with. The party that threatens to get squeezed out in the contest is the Congress. Its State unit in a shambles with many desertions since the last year or so. It’s true that some of these dissidents have since returned or at least shown signs of supporting the Congress, but that could be a case of too little too late. The Congress is still dependant on patronage from elites, such as the scion of an erstwhile royal family. The last time the Congress had its Government in Tripura was in 1993 — that too a coalition — which had lasted just over a year. Since then, the party has been struggling to regain the lost ground. Now, its task has been made more difficult with the rise of the BJP in the region. Essentially, the Tripura contest is one between two conflicting ideologies and sub-ideologies within the larger ideological framework. Manik Sarkar represents the Marxist image with a dose of the Gandhian spirit. The popular rhetoric of the working class uniting to stave off the evil capitalists has served him well all these years. But now it is confronted by an equally dominant and belligerent call of nationalism and regional pride made by the BJP and its affiliates. With the Marxists consistently failing to find support, election after election in the country (barring in Kerala where it wins and loses in equal measure), their brand of politics is now seen as close to extinction. The new class of voters is unlikely to be as wedded to the Left doctrine as the earlier ones who imbibed the lofty ideals in the hope that a class-less society of equals could be crafted on the ruins of capitalism. And then there are local issues. There is an impression that power, rather than being decentralised (to the masses, which Karl Marx dreamed of), has been centralised in the Left Front regime by a handful of leaders, with Manik Sarkar being in the forefront. There is virtually no internal democracy. On the governance front, people still bridle at the memory of the Left blunder in the recruitment of more than 10,000 teachers for Government schools in the State. The Tripura High Court had declared the recruitment as null and void, leading to enormous financial and social misery to the victims and their families. This could turn out to be an important election issue because the bulk of the ‘working class’ which the Left banks upon to retain power, comes from the close to three lakh Government sector employees and pensioners. Finally, there is the tribal factor. The BJP has especially targeted the State’s four major tribal communities — Debbarma, Reang, Chakma, and Tripuri — which together account for 78 per cent of the total tribal population. The party recently sprung a unique depiction of Bharat Mata in the traditional attire of the four tribal communities, instead of in a saree as is usual. The new Mother India now shares space with photographs of senior party leaders and founders, at various State party events. In all, the tribals form roughly 30 per cent of the State’s population. From not having an option and, therefore, being taken for granted by the Left, the tribals are now being wooed assiduously by all political sections. It would not be hyperbolic to suggest that the tribal vote will determine the winner of the coming Assembly election in Tripura. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Will BJP succeed in trumping Manik Sarkar in Tripura?

National broadcaster Doordarshan on Wednesday refuted allegations of intentionally blacking out the Independence Day speech of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and said that the reports are &#39;totally incorrect&#39;

Doordarshan, in a&nbsp;letter, stated that the News Unit of the local station of Doordarshan has given wide coverage to the public address of the Chief Minister and the development activity of the state government.

&quot;On August 15 2017, Doordarshan gave a wide coverage to the Chief Minister&#39;s Independence Day programme and telecast reports running to 29 minutes and 45 seconds. Out of which the Chief Minister&#39;s speech coverage was for 12 minutes,&quot; the letter read.

Doordarshan even claimed that the show was repeat telecasted on August 16 and added that the speech and Independence Day programme in various district of Tripura was given wide publicity in the Regional News Bulletin.

&quot;Therefore, the allegation that Doordarshan Kendra, Agartala blacked out the Chief Minister on Independence Day is totally incorrect and is vehemently refuted.&quot;

The Chief Minister on Tuesday alleged that Doordarshan and All India Radio refused to broadcast his customary Independence Day speech and asked him to rewrite and rerecord it.

The public broadcasters allegedly did not air Sarkar&#39;s speech which was scheduled to be aired at 6.30 am on Tuesday.

As per the media reports, the Chief Minister&#39;s Office was informed via a letter that his speech would not be broadcast unless he &quot;reshaped it&quot;.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) strongly condemned the move and also released an official statement.

&quot;This is a gross infringement on the right of a Chief Minister to address the people of his state on Independence Day. This act is a reminiscent of the Emergency days and goes beyond as it seeks to gag the elected Chief Minister of a state. The Central Government is trampling upon the autonomy of Doordarshan/AIR and Prasar Bharati by such acts of censorship,&quot; the statement read.

The CPM also demanded an action against &quot;those responsible for prohibiting the broadcast,&quot; adding, &quot;the Modi Government should stop treating the Prasar Bharati as a department of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.&quot;

The party also tweeted the text of Manik Sarkar&#39;s Independence Day speech on their Twitter handle, adding, &quot;Text of Tripura CM&#39;s Speech which AIR &amp; DD had the audacity to censor. This is an insult 2 People of Tripura &amp; Constitutional Rights of States.&quot;&nbsp;

The chief minister's office had been informed via a letter, news reports said, that his speech would not be broadcast unless he 'reshaped it'

National broadcaster Doordarshan on Wednesday refuted allegations of intentionally blacking out the Independence Day speech of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and said that the reports are 'totally incorrect' Doordarshan, in a letter, stated that the News Unit of the local station of Doordarshan has given wide coverage to the public address of the Chief Minister and the development activity of the state government. "On August 15 2017, Doordarshan gave a wide coverage to the Chief Minister's Independence Day programme and telecast reports running to 29 minutes and 45 seconds. Out of which the Chief Minister's speech coverage was for 12 minutes," the letter read. Doordarshan even claimed that the show was repeat telecasted on August 16 and added that the speech and Independence Day programme in various district of Tripura was given wide publicity in the Regional News Bulletin. "Therefore, the allegation that Doordarshan Kendra, Agartala blacked out the Chief Minister on Independence Day is totally incorrect and is vehemently refuted." The Chief Minister on Tuesday alleged that Doordarshan and All India Radio refused to broadcast his customary Independence Day speech and asked him to rewrite and rerecord it. The public broadcasters allegedly did not air Sarkar's speech which was scheduled to be aired at 6.30 am on Tuesday. As per the media reports, the Chief Minister's Office was informed via a letter that his speech would not be broadcast unless he "reshaped it". The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) strongly condemned the move and also released an official statement. "This is a gross infringement on the right of a Chief Minister to address the people of his state on Independence Day. This act is a reminiscent of the Emergency days and goes beyond as it seeks to gag the elected Chief Minister of a state. The Central Government is trampling upon the autonomy of Doordarshan/AIR and Prasar Bharati by such acts of censorship," the statement read. The CPM also demanded an action against "those responsible for prohibiting the broadcast," adding, "the Modi Government should stop treating the Prasar Bharati as a department of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting." The party also tweeted the text of Manik Sarkar's Independence Day speech on their Twitter handle, adding, "Text of Tripura CM's Speech which AIR & DD had the audacity to censor. This is an insult 2 People of Tripura & Constitutional Rights of States."

Doordarshan says it did not black out Tripura CM's Independence Day speech

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