The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday promised to implement its ‘Bengal development model’ in Tripura in its poll manifesto for the February 16 assembly elections and said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has failed to fulfil its promises following the ‘misrule’ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) in the northeastern state.
The party promised to create two lakh jobs in Tripura in five years and to provide ₹1,000 to 1 lakh unemployed youths in the state every year, if it comes to power.
The TMC manifesto was launched a day ahead of party chief and West Bengal chief Mamata Banerjee’s slated visit to the poll-bound state. It is contesting in 28 seats in the 60-member Assembly. A party is required at least 31 seats to form government in the state.
At a press conference in Agartala, TMC leader Sushmita Dev said, “The BJP’s Vision Document was full of betrayals. Our manifesto promises Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal development model in Tripura. We want to form an inclusive society comprising all religions, cultures, sects and cultural traditions.”
TMC Tripura unit president Pijush Kanti Biswas alleged that people brought the BJP to power to get free from CPM’s misrule in 2018 but the BJP failed to fulfil all its promises.
“Bike bahinis (motorcycle-borne squad) are brought to abuse the opposition activists. Loot is going on in their regime. After people’s experience with the Congress, Left and BJP regimes in different times, people now are inclined to Trinamool Congress. We are confident of our victory,” said Biswas.
The BJP came to power in Tripura in alliance with the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) in 2018, ending 25 years of the CPI (M) rule in the state, while the TMC rose to power in West Bengal in 2011, ending 34 years of the CPI (M) rule.
Meanwhile, TMC Tripura in-charge Rajib Banerjee said the party may consider post-poll alliances in the state.
“Things are sometimes different before and after the polls. If required, we may form alliance with other parties after poll results based on aspirations of people.”
In its manifesto, the party also promised to provide collateral- free loans with low interest rates under Student Credit Card scheme, free tabs for students in public colleges to improve digital learning, free bicycles to all public higher secondary school students similar to the West Bengal government’s flagship scheme ‘ Sabooj Sathi’ and Rs. 1,000 annual scholarships to fourth to eighth standard students of ST and SC communities to cut down the rate of school dropouts.
The party promised to start toll-free SOS helpline for women and children, mother and child nutrition kits for pregnant and lactating women and to implement Bengal’s flagship schemes like, Lakshmir Bhandar, Rupasree, Somobyathi Prakalpa, etc., along with introducing a special ‘Fight against Drugs Mission’ and filling up of police vacancies to make law and order better in the state.
