Agartala: Feb 17: The ongoing battle of words between the ruling BJP and opposition parties in Tripura has intensified over the general budget for the financial year 2025-26. The debate began after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget in Parliament, sparking a wave of criticism from opposition leaders across the country, including in Tripura. The opposition has united in their discontent with the budget, accusing the central government of failing to address key issues affecting the common people.
In response to this criticism, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee fiercely criticized the opposition for what he described as their ignorance of economic principles. During a public meeting organized by the BJP Sadar District Committee in support of the central budget, Bhattacharya lashed out at opposition leaders, claiming they were unaware of the key differences between the central and state budgets, calling their understanding of economics shallow and inadequate.
However, the opposition has not taken this criticism lightly. CPM state secretary and opposition leader Jitendra Chowdhury hit back, accusing the BJP of indulging in “anti-Left politics” out of frustration. Chowdhury suggested that the BJP’s harsh statements were a reflection of the party’s growing alienation from the people of Tripura. According to him, the BJP’s attacks were aimed at distracting the public and inflating their own image, as the ruling party struggles to maintain its relevance in the face of increasing discontent.
Chowdhury further noted that the BJP’s real “headache” was the communists, as evidenced by the repeated attacks against them in public statements. He pointed out that the BJP’s leadership is resorting to false statements as a means of propping up their narrative. To this end, Chowdhury extended an invitation to the BJP leaders for an open discussion on the general budget, challenging them to a public debate to clarify their positions and address the concerns raised by the opposition.
