Sunil Deodhar: The man who scripted BJP's Tripura victory

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the BJP's performance in the elections in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya had helped it go from being a "no one"+ to a party which has become synonymous with winning elections.

In an especially stunning performance in Tripura, the party dislodged the Left Front's 25-year rule in the state, easily crossing the half-way mark with over 40 seats in the 60-seat Assembly.

And the party could have one man to thank for the victory: 52-year-old Mumbaikar Sunil Deodhar.

The former RSS man was appointed the BJP's state in-charge of Tripura in November 2014.

Speaking exclusively to Maharashtra Times Online from Agartala, Deodhar, who has been working in the northeast since 1991, shared that he focussed on building a formidable structure, up from the booth-level, spending atleast 15 days every month in Tripura.

He also credited his previous experience in the northeast, including the eight years he spent in Meghalaya as an RSS pracharak, as significant in today's victory.

When asked if he will become the next chief minister of Tripura, Deodhar categorically dismissed all speculation. In fact, he asserted that even if the party approaches him for the top position, he will turn it down.

He, however, did thank party president Amit Shah for putting his faith in him.

Deodhar accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) government led by Manik Sarkar in the state of having done nothing for the people of Tripura.

"67 per cent of the people are still below poverty line. The people were frustrated but had no other alternative," he charged.

The Congress, Deodhar asserts, was not an option, since it needs the help of the CPM at the Centre.

"In this situation, PM Modi gave them hope with his people-centric policies."

"Manik Sarkar had a clean, non-corrupt image. We worked to exposed that image," Deodhar added.

The former RSS man shared that the top priorities of the new BJP government in Tripura would include the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission and the improvement of the state's law and order situation.

Deodhar previously managed PM Modi's Lok Sabha campaign in Varanasi in 2014 and also played a crucial role in the 2013 elections in Delhi.

He speaks fluent Bengali and even knows Kokborok, the local language of Tripura, which helped him connect with the locals.

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