They might be rivals, but Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) president N.C. Debbarma has high praise for Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and said that there was no doubt about the honesty of the chief minister of Tripura.
“I can tell you that I would not be able to believe that Manik babu is dishonest. Personally he is a bhadralok,” Debbarma told THE WEEK.
Incidentally, the IPFT had recently entered into an alliance with the BJP, who made a film on Manik Sarkar titled Lal Sarkar and brought out a book Manik Rajar Deshe describing the chief minister's “misrule” and attacking him personally.
Debbarma said that his war against Sarkar was for being a CPI(M) leader. “I would rather call him a right man in wrong party. He did nothing for tribals in Tripura because his party did not allow him to,” said he.
He said Manik Sarkar was not only a chief minister. “But he is also a politburo member. So he has to abide by the rules and regulations of the party. In CPI(M), the central committee takes the decision and politburo members have to abide by that. CPI(M)’s central leadership has never had any policy for tribals,” said he.
“That is the reason why CPI(M) is not accepted in many parts of the country,” Debbarma said adding that while all parties have some policies for tribal people, CPI(M) drew flak.
Lashing out at Sarkar, Debbarma said that lands of tribal people in Tripura were snatched. “Those who violate tribal laws were given settlements by our chief minister. I would like to ask him why he did this?” asked he.
Debbarma said the officers of the state government did not go to tribal area for work. Though Tripura has a demarcated area for tribal people under sixth schedule, CPI(M) government has not empowered the tribal people.
“Despite being in areas under sixth schedule the funds are not going in the hands of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) but into the local BDOs who are under the state government,” said Debbarma. “How could one see development in this region?” he asked.
Debbarma said 16 lakh people of Tripura would vote against the CPI(M) government. “I think BJP government would definitely come to power in Tripura with our help,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held two public rallies in Tripura on Friday. Chances are high that he would come back just few a days before the election. Amit Shah would also follow suit and make a third trip.
Around 52 BJP leaders will be visiting Tripura ahead of the elections. From West Bengal too, leaders like Locket Chatterjee, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriya have visited Tripura to address public rally.
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders are high on the public euphoria. When asked for a prediction, Biplab Kumar Deb, state BJP president, said, “Even CPM leaders’ family members too will vote for us this time.” It has to be seen whether this euphoria is translated into votes.
