Agartala, August 12:
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Wednesday described his recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi as “very cordial and positive”, amid political discussions over the BJP’s alliance with Tipra Motha and preparations for the forthcoming village council elections.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a blood donation camp at Hawkers Corner here, a day after returning from Delhi, Saha said the meeting covered organisational, administrative and political issues concerning the state.
“There were discussions on organisational and executive matters as well as political issues. The talks were very cordial and positive. When there is an outcome, it will be made public. I hope there will be a good outcome,” Saha said.
Asked about the political developments and the BJP’s understanding with its allies, the Chief Minister said the leadership had been holding positive discussions and asked people to wait for the outcome.
“You have probably seen the photograph from another place as well. Discussions are going on. I have already said that when there is an outcome, it will come out. I hope there is a possibility of a good outcome,” he said.
His remarks assume significance in the backdrop of preparations for the village council elections, which are expected to be a major political contest in Tripura’s tribal areas. The BJP and Tipra Motha are partners in the state government, while their political equations at the grassroots level remain under close watch.
In his public address, Saha launched a sharp attack on the opposition, accusing the CPI(M) and Congress of misleading people by politicising isolated incidents and highlighting temporary problems while ignoring the government’s development initiatives.
“They are still running the flashback. People forget what happened in different situations and how incidents unfolded. We are trying to address the problems, but they keep giving them different names and using them for political purposes,” he said.
Referring to a recent CPI(M)-backed protest, Saha questioned the opposition’s account of an alleged police baton injury to a protester’s finger. He claimed the injury occurred when the finger became caught between barricades, alleging that the incident was subsequently presented as police excess.
Saha said his government might not be able to resolve every problem immediately, but asserted that it remained committed to addressing people’s concerns.
“Perhaps everything is not possible for our government and everything is not happening as we want. We have many problems. But keeping those problems in mind, this is a government that works for the people,” he said.
The Chief Minister also defended his government’s approach to law and order, saying political affiliation would not shield anyone found involved in wrongdoing.
“If anyone does something wrong, even if he belongs to our party, we do not spare him,” Saha said.
He claimed Tripura had made progress in investment, infrastructure, tourism, employment and other sectors, and said temporary shortcomings should not be used to undermine the broader development process.
Saha also stepped up his political attack on the CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress-Trinamool Congress alliance, saying the BJP would remind voters of the previous regimes’ record.
“They think we are sitting quietly, but we are not. We remember what happened during their time. We will tell the people about their record,” he said.
With the village council elections approaching, Saha’s remarks underline the BJP’s twin focus on its political understanding with Tipra Motha and an aggressive campaign against the opposition’s record and its handling of protests.
