BJP is banking on development plank; will win over 50 seats

Tripura chief minister Manik Saha said BJP is banking on a development plank to stay in power in the state. In an interview with Bikash Singh, he said the party will win more than 50 seats in the 60-member assembly. Excerpts:

Why do you think people will vote for BJP?

In five years we have initiated all-round development. Law and order has improved. There is almost a 50% drop in violence. We have controlled crimes like eve-teasing and murder to a large extent and there's a downward trend in suicides. Tripura has improved its position among states on the law and order front.


Prime minister Narendra Modi has given us the HIRA model (highway, i-way, railway and airway). Railway connectivity has reached Tripura and soon we will also have intercity trains.

The number of women self-help groups has increased exponentially - there is a 10-time increase. They are getting banking facilities. We have ushered in holistic development of tribal people. Even the airport of Agartala is named after Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya. Earlier, people were talking about it but we did it. Tribal students are getting pre-matric scholarships. The Centre has given us a special package of ₹1,300 crore. Several Ekalavya and residential schools have come up in the tribal areas. Under the Act East policy, waterway routes are being opened with neighbouring countries.

Dearness allowance has increased to 20% from 8%, which will benefit over two lakh people. We have increased the MSP and we have procured rice from farmers. We have come up with a dental college. Seven police stations run by female officers have been set up in the state. There is CCTV in the state.

Several universities have been set up in the state, one of which is Buddha University. Highway projects worth ₹10,222 crore are underway and we are also coming up with seven ropeway projects. We have appointed doctors for posts that were vacant.

How many seats do you think BJP will get?

We will get over 50 seats. There are smiles on their faces and people will bring back the double-engine government with a thumping majority. In 2018, in the 60-member Tripura assembly, BJP won 36 seats and our ally, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), won eight.

Will your alliance with IPFT continue?

IPFT is our ally and we will continue with the alliance. They are part of the government, and together we are running the government in Tripura. So far, as new allies are concerned, we are open to it and we can talk about it.

CPIM and Congress are gravitating to form an alliance. Do you see this as a threat to BJP's prospects?

In no way will this be a threat to us. Congress and CPIM alliance is an unholy one. How will they approach people and what will they say to them... For all these years they were engaged in violence.