Manik Sarkar
Former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Thursday said the ensuing Assembly polls in the state would be straight contest between the ruling Left Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a gathering in Kolkata, organized by the West Bengal state committee of CPI-M, Sarkar accused the BJP of indulging in ‘ethnic and communal polarisation’ to dethrone the Left Front from power in his State.

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“The BJP and separatist forces such as Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPTF) are hatching a conspiracy to defeat the Left Front government of Tripura. They are trying to divide the people of the state on ethnic and communal lines. They are trying to divide the people on the basis of tribals and non-tribals,” Sarkar said

Sarkar also said the RSS and the BJP were attempting to create a separate state for tribals.

Sarkar said the BJP has raised a slogan in Tripura that the next Assembly election cannot be held under the rule of the Left Front government and President’s Rule should be imposed to hold polls.

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“President’s Rule is imposed if there is a constitutional crisis. At present, there is no constitutional crisis in Tripura and there is also no law-and-order situation,” Sarkar added.

“The biggest achievement of the Left Front government is the unity of the people of the state,” he further said.

Taking a dig at the Centre, Sarkar accused the Central Government of trying to create an ‘economic blockade’ in Tripura.

According to him, the State has been losing Rs 1,500-2000 crore a year since the abolition of the Planning Commission and implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations for sharing 42 per cent of the central tax revenues with the states.

“During the Planning Commission regime, the northeastern states including Tripura used to enjoy the special category status, under which additional financial support was extended to these states.

“But, after the abolition of the Commission, we are being deprived of the additional support,” Sarkar said.