New Delhi: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has said that the three-way fight in the upcoming assembly polls in the tiny state of Tripura will benefit the Left-Congress alliance and not the BJP. 


While talking to PTI, the Communist leader said that local-level leaders will make an assessment to see “who is best able to defeat the BJP”. He added that possible adjustments with other parties (such as Tipra Motha) will also be looked at in the run-up to the polls slated for February 16. 


Left-Congress Alliance 


“The BJP (and its ally IPFT) had won 18 seats in the last elections out of 20 seats in the tribal areas,” said Yechury. 


“This time the Tipra Motha is at the forefront in tribal areas. The IPFT is now just a rump and BJP has given them only 5 seats. The advantage that BJP got last time won’t be repeated. That should help the Left-Congress alliance,” he explained. 


Notably, in the 60-member Tripura assembly, 20 seats are reserved for tribal areas. The Bharatiya Janta Party won a total of 36 seats to form a government in 2018, with half of them coming from the tribal region, reported PTI. 


According to PTI, analysts agree that with CPI(M)’s assessment that with the rise of the Tipra Motha, BJP’s vote and seat share in tribal areas will be drastically reduced. Tipra Motha was founded by Pradyut Kishore Manikya Debbarma, a scion of the former royal family of the state and a Tripuri. 


In the last elections, BJP’s vote share was 43.59 percent as compared to CPI(M)’s 42.22 percent. “We will gain from it,” asserted Yechury. 


Presence Of Parties In Tripura 


In 2018, the BJP came to power, winning most of the Congress vote that in 2013 was nearly 37 percent and partially into the CPI(M)’s vote bank, which was 48 percent in 2013. 


The Left is of the view that with the expected reduction in tribal votes, which accounts for nearly a third of the state’s total, for the BJP, the alliance led by it will gain an advantage in the forthcoming assembly elections. 


Tripura polls is the first in 2023 which will set the tone for further elections this year. Political pundits see a tough fight in the state between the ruling BJP and the opposition. 


Till 2018, the power battle in the state was largely between the Congress and CPI(M), with smaller tribal parties playing minor but at times crucial roles, the PTI report mentioned. 


According to the PTI report, with both the erstwhile Maharaja and Maharani, having been Congress MPs, the grand old party had a strong presence in the tribal belt. 


However, CPI(M)’s presence is also being strengthened by the legendary tribal Communist leaders like Dasarath Debbarma, who became a popular chief minister of the state and Jitendra Choudhury, a possible Left candidate for chief ministership in this election.  The party has a huge presence in the tribal belt where Tripuris, Reangs, Jamatias, Chakmas, Mogs, Kuki and others live. 


“At the ground level, who will be able to defeat the BJP, that assessment will be made by ground-level leaders,” Yechury said, explaining his earlier statement that though there is no pre-poll adjustment with Tipra Motha, there can be a local-level understanding. 


“That is why I said there is a likelihood at that point of time because the people will decide who can achieve this objective (of defeating the BJP),” he said. 


Yechury added, “CPI(M) was the most consistent in opposing the repression unleashed on the people and that has been recognised by the people.” 


He also said that the “people have realised the necessity of unifying all secular and democratic forces in order to ensure the BJP government is removed”, reported PTI. 


On the possibility of any post-poll negotiations, Yechury said, “Let us see… the first battle to be won is on the 16th (February, the election date). The second battle will emerge on March 2 (counting day). That we will meet then…”