JUST IN
You are here: Home » Politics » News » National

UP bypoll: Once associated with Nehru, Phulpur finds itself in spotlight

Karti Chidambaram's CBI custody extended, father could be questioned soon
Business Standard

Violence erupts in Tripura; Swamy calls Lenin a terrorist: 10 developments

Tripura violence: A statue of Left icon and Communist leader Vladimir Lenin was demolished using a bulldozer at Belonia town in South Tripura

BS Web Team  |  New Delhi 

Tripura elections, CPI (M), left, Manik Srkar, BJP, ipft, congress, Indigenous People's Front of Tripura , BJP victory in tripura,CPI(M), RSS, narendra modi, hemanth kumar biswa
The Tripura Police said that it had received four complaints of post-poll violence from various parts of the state since Sunday night. BJP supporters wave party flag to celebrate BJP's win. (Photo: PTI)

After the Tripura Assembly election results 2018, which saw the BJP demolishing the CPI(M)-led Left Front and winning a two-thirds majority together with its ally, the IPFT, there have been reports of sporadic violence and clashes among rival political groups in different parts of the state. Section 144 has been imposed in several violence-affected areas of Tripura. Also, a statue of communist icon Vladimir Lenin was demolished at Belonia town in South Tripura on Monday. On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the state's Governor and the DGP and asked them to ensure peace till a new government was installed. Singh was in the Northeast to attend the swearing-in of the Conrad Sangma-led Meghalaya government. In the recently concluded Assembly elections, the state witnessed a change in rule after 25 years. The BJP-IPFT coalition swept the February 18 polls, the results of which were declared on Saturday, winning 43 of the 59 seats that went to the polls. The BJP secured 35 seats in the 60-member Assembly, while its ally IPFT, a tribal-based party, won eight seats. The BJP has warned its leaders and supporters of "stern" action if they are found to be involved in "post-poll violence" in Tripura. Here are the top 10 developments around the cases of post-poll violence in Tripura: 1) Swamy defends pulling down of 'terrorist' Lenin's statue in Tripura On Monday, a statue of Left icon and Communist leader Vladimir Lenin was also demolished at Belonia town in South Tripura with the help of a bulldozer. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today defended pulling down of a statue of communist icon Lenin in Tripura, saying the late Russian leader was "a terrorist" and questioned if the statue of such a person could be installed in India. 2) RSS loyalist Biplab to be Tripura's 11th Chief Minister: Biplab Kumar Deb, the Chief Minister-designate of Tripura, has been a long-time RSS volunteer who is largely credited for the BJP's turnaround in the state elections -- winning 35 out 60 assembly seats and demolishing one of the last citadels of the Left Front in the country. Deb replaced Sudhindra Dasgupta, the longest-serving BJP state president, in January, 2015 after he was handpicked by BJP's "Prabhari" (central incharge) Sunil Deodhar to lead the party in the state. 3) Section 144 imposed: Section 144 has been imposed in several violence-affected areas of Tripura, news agency ANI reported on Tuesday.

3) Rajnath Singh takes stock of the situation in Tripura: On Tuesday, amid reports of sporadic violence in Tripura, an official said that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the state's Governor and the DGP and asked them to ensure peace until a new government was installed. During Singh's calls, Governor Tathagata Roy and DGP A K Shukla apprised the minister about the prevailing situation in the state.

They also briefed him about the steps taken to control the violence that erupted following the BJP-IPFT alliance's victory over the CPI-M. ALSO READ: Tripura elections: BJP win over Left an ideological victory, says Modi Singh asked the Governor and the DGP to check all kinds of violence and ensure peace till a new government was installed in Tripura. 4) Vladimir Lenin's statue demolished: 5) Four complaints of post-poll violence, arson: On Monday, the Tripura Police said that it had received four complaints of post-poll violence from various parts of the state since Sunday night. "The cases include arson at two CPI(M) offices in the Sidhai area in West Tripura district, 25 km from here, and clashes between CPI(M) and BJP supporters at Kadamtala in North Tripura district, 140km from here," Superintendent of Police (Control) Pradip De said in Agartala, adding that no one had been arrested so far. ALSO READ: Northeast elections 2018: Why BJP is so desperate to hype its Tripura win 6) BJP blames CPI(M) 'migrants', warns of stern action: On Monday, BJP Vice-President Subal Bhowmick said at a press meet that a section of unidentified BJP supporters, who have migrated to the party from the CPI(M), were creating unrest in parts of Tripura. "Anyone found to be involved in post-poll violence would be immediately expelled and legal action will be initiated against them," he said. Bhowmick added that the situation was being closely monitored by the party. He warned that no one would be spared if they were found creating tension in the state. Further, he alleged that CPI(M) activists, too, "assaulted" 49 BJP supporters, 17 of whom had to be hospitalised. ALSO READ: IPFT puts pressure on BJP, demands respectable position in Tripura cabinet 7) CPI(M) claims 240 people injured in attacks: On its end, the CPI(M) has alleged that supporters and activists of the BJP-Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (BJP-IPFT) alliance were terrorising its workers since the announcement of election results on March 3. The Left party also accused them of burning its party offices. CPI(M) office secretary Haripada Das said over 240 people were injured in attacks on party offices, offices of Left trade unions, and homes of prominent leaders in the past 48 hours. 8) D Raja says violence not acceptable in democracy: Reacting to the news of vandalism emanating from the state, CPI leader D Raja said that he strongly condemned the violence, which was not acceptable in a democracy. "We are a multi-party democracy, some parties win and some lose, does not mean they can resort to vandalism and violence like demolition of Lenin statue will take place. Law needs to take its course," he said.

9) Newly elected BJP MLAs to meet today: According to party leaders, the BJP-IPFT alliance's newly-elected MLAs are scheduled to meet here on Tuesday in the presence of central observers to deliberate and decide on various aspects of government formation. "Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Jual Oram would arrive here on Tuesday as central party observers. They would meet the newly-elected MLAs on Tuesday to ascertain their views on government formation," Tripura BJP Vice-President Subal Bhowmik told the media in Agartala. The BJP Parliamentary Board on Saturday appointed Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Jual Oram as central observers. ALSO READ: Tripura results will not impact Karnataka, no Modi wave here: Siddaramaiah 10) PM Modi, Amit Shah will take a call on IPFT's demand: Further, while answering a question on the IPFT's demand for a separate state for tribals, Deb said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP party chief would take a decision on this. "BJP President Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi know how to give right direction to public's suggestion," he said.
With agency inputs

First Published: Tue, March 06 2018. 17:31 IST

PREVIOUS STORY

NEXT STORY
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Advertisements