Agartala, Oct 28: The BJP on Wednesday accused the Congress-led INDIA bloc of attempting to destabilise democratic institutions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while asserting that the party was confident of securing a decisive mandate in Tripura’s upcoming urban local body elections.
BJP Tripura president and MLA Abhishek Debroy made the remarks after a core committee meeting at Chief Minister Manik Saha’s official residence on Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Lane here, where the party’s preparations for elections to 21 urban local bodies, including a municipal corporation, were discussed.
Debroy alleged that opposition parties were questioning the SIR process because they could not return to power through elections. He claimed that the exercise had been conducted several times under previous Congress and CPI(M) governments, citing 1995 and 2004 as examples.
“SIR is a normal process, but the opposition is misleading people by presenting it in a distorted manner,” Debroy said, adding that the BJP would reach out to voters to counter the opposition’s campaign.
Accusing the opposition of pursuing power at any cost, he alleged that its political activities were aimed at creating unrest and weakening democratic institutions. He also criticised the Congress over its campaign against the Election Commission and its demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The BJP leader cited the party’s performance in recent college elections to counter the opposition’s claim of youth support, asserting that the results reflected public backing for the BJP. He also accused the opposition of corruption and attempting to undermine India’s image.
On the civic polls, Debroy said the party had completed preparations, including work on candidate lists, and expressed confidence that the BJP would win a substantial mandate across the urban local bodies.
The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, former chief minister and MP Biplab Kumar Deb, BJP’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra, state in-charge Mriganka Deo Barma and other senior leaders and core committee members.
Debroy said the party would organise a mega rally on October 31 to mobilise public support.
