Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the opposition in Tirpura to guide the “inexperienced” Biplab Kumar Deb with their “years of experience” in running the government. He also assured inclusiveness for those who did not vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party, in an oblique reference to CPI(M) that ruled the State for 25 years.
Biplab Kumar Deb sworn in as Tripura CM
The Prime Minister made his appeal after Mr. Deb was sworn in as the Chief Minister to take charge of Tripura’s first BJP government in alliance with Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT). Governor Tathagata Roy also administered the oath of office and secrecy to eight others including BJP’s Jishnu Dev Varma as Deputy Chief Minister and the octogenarian IPFT chief N.C. Debbarman.
“This election has been historic and underlined the political significance of a small State like Tripura. The people here have scripted this victory, and it is responsibility now to ensure that the lamp of development lit today brightens by the day,” Mr. Modi said.
He also assured those who could be feeling left out of the development process under a new regime. “I assure you that this (BJP-IPFT) government is for all, for those who voted for us and for those who did not,” he said.
With former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar flanked by senior BJP leaders L.K. Advani and M.M. Joshi on the dais, Mr. Modi also urged the veteran CPI(M) legislators – 16 were elected – to use their “long experience in running the government” and guide the “new, youthful and inexperienced” Mr. Deb and his team.
Focus Northeast
Beginning his speech with the tribal Kokborok language and ending it with Bengali, the PM said his predecessors did not give adequate attention that the Northeast deserved since India’s independence.
“I have come to the Northeast at least 25 times, more than all PMs before me. This is not because of political mileage, but because we want the remotest regions to feel they belong to this country,” he said.
Before him, BJP president Amit Shah said Tripura has strengthened his party’s goal of ruling seven of the eight Northeast states. Tripura is the sixth state after Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland where the BJP has a government on its own or in alliance.
Assembly election in Mizoram, where the Congress has been ruling for almost 10 years, is scheduled later this year.
“We will try to honour the verdict of the people of Tripura by ensuring development and peace in the State,” Mr. Shah said.
An emotional Mr. Deb, crediting the electoral victory to hard work put in by hundreds of party workers, sought cooperation of the people in facing the challenge of adhering to the vision document the BJP had come out with before the polls.
“Treat me as your son, brother, and not the CM. Don’t hesitate to pull me by the ears and put me on the right track if I err in fulfilling your aspirations,” he said.
