CPI-M Politburo member Brinda Karat today alleged that BJP is trying to use "black money and muscle power" in the coming assembly poll in Tripura as it knows it will not get the mandate. Karat said BJPs pre-poll alliance with regional outfit Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) was an "unholy alliance" and urged voters to defeat them and help form the eighth Left Front government in the state. They (BJP) know well that they will not come to power with the public mandate. So they are trying to buy people with black money and are using muscle power.
But they will not succeed as people are very conscious here," Karat told a rally at Killa in Gomati district, about 50 km from here. BJP has forged an alliance in nine seats with IPFT a regional party floated in late 1990s with the demand of Twipraland, a separate state for indigenous communities. The rest 51 of the total 60 seats would be contested by the saffron party. Referring to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singhs recent visit to Tripura, the CPI-M leader asked why he was silent over IPFT statehood demand. "Nobody would be benefitted by dividing a small state like Tripura," she said adding that BJP was "shedding crocodile tears" for indigenous communities while the central government slashed fund for tribal sub-plan in union budget. "In BJP ruled states they are snatching land from tribals and giving it to corporates. That party is showing fake sympathy for them," she said adding the LF has created an instance of good governance in Tripura and masses are with them. The IPFT leaders had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on January 5 in Delhi over the statehood demand. The Centre had announced a modality committee to study socio-economic and cultural and linguistic aspects of Tripuras indigenous groups.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)