CALCUTTA, 14 April 2004 — The Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s well-oiled election machine is working round the clock in Tripura to ensure the victory of party candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The remote northeastern state has only two Lok Sabha seats where polling is scheduled for April 22.
The CPI(M) predictably re-nominated its sitting MPs, Bajubon Reang and Khagen Das, from East Tripura and West Tripura seats respectively where 1.9 million voters are expected to exercise their franchise this time.
The Marxists, who lead Tripura’s Left Front government, launched a low key campaign last month for parliamentary elections. But the campaign has now picked up momentum giving sleepless nights to the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and Trinamul Congress which have fielded candidates in the two seats.
As usual, Tripura Chief Minister and CPI(M) heavyweight, Manik Sarkar, is the star campaigner for the party which is again tipped to win both seats by big margins.
Other CPI(M) organizational leaders with an impressive track record burning the midnight oil are Bijan Dhar and Badal Chowdhury.
Although tribal insurgency and pathetic law and order are key election issues in the far-flung province, the opposition has miserably failed to capitalize on them.
Congress claims its hands are tied because of an informal alliance between the CPI(M) and Congress at the national level.
Moreover, Congress candidates Nirmalya Dasgupta (West Tripura) and Jadumohan Tripura (East Tripura) are lightweights compared to sitting CPI(M) MPs seeking re-election.
The BJP has fielded Pulin Dewan for the East Tripura seat, leaving West Tripura seat for its NDA ally, Trinamul Congress. Trinamul Congress has fielded Amal Mullick but his prospects are equally dim.
Initially, Lok Sabha elections in Tripura were scheduled for April 20 in the first phase of polling across the country. However, the Tripura government urged the Election Commission not to hold elections on that day as tribespeople will celebrate “Baba Gariyapuja”.
The Commission shifted elections in Tripura to April 22.
