Tripura Polls: BJP Election Incharge Himanta Biswa Sarma Resorts to Controversies

On January 25, the BJP in Tripura has finally announced forging an alliance with Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT). According to the seat sharing agreement, N.C. Debbarma led IPFT faction has agreed to contest in 9 seats and the BJP, in 51 seats in the coming assembly elections in the state, scheduled to be held on February 18. On the other side, IPFT’s breakaway faction led by Rajeshwar Debbarma is considering to join hands with the Congress party. With this alliance between BJP and IPFT, it is now clear that the BJP is playing the separatist card in Tripura as the IPFT’s longstanding demand has been the formation of a separate tribal state – Twipraland.

The BJP’s election in charge for Tripura, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Health Minister, is the man behind the party’s latest developments in the state.

So far, leading the BJP’s campaign in Tripura, Sarma made headlines by resorting to a number of controversial statements. For example, earlier this month, Sarma made controversial statements against Tripura Chief Minister that he would deport Manik Sarkar to Bangladesh after the elections, although such controversies are not new to him. Last year, Sarma said, “Cancer is divine justice for sins” addressing a gathering of teachers which attracted wide range criticism from scholars and politicians across the country.

Himanta Biswa Sarma who is also the convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) has emerged as the chief strategist for the BJP in northeastern states, despite his recent switching to BJP from Congress before 2016 Assam elections.

The ruling CPI(M) party leaders alleged Sarma as resorting misleading politics in order to create an atmosphere of fear among voters while pointing out his move when he approached the election commission asking to deploy a maximum number of paramilitary forces during the elections.

The BJP could not win any MLA seat in the earlier assembly elections held in 2013, in which the left front led by Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged as victorious winning in 49 constituencies, whereas Congress and CPI parties won in 10 and 1 constituencies respectively. However, last year, Seven sitting MLAs have joined the saffron party making it as an opposition in the state assembly. CPI(M) has been ruling Tripura since 1993.

CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar alleged that the BJP leaders are deploying their cadre from other states using their corporate funding. Despite the BJP’s attempts, Dhar expressed his confidence of emerging as victorious in the elections. Responding on an alleged meeting on political strategy between the BJP leaders and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on January 14 in New Delhi, Dhar urged the election commission to inquire into the matter. In a letter written to the Chief Election Commissioner, Dhar alleged that the BJP violated norms by engaging the NSA for political purpose and sought stern action.

The polling in Tripura is scheduled on February 18 while Meghalaya and Nagaland will go to polls on February 27. Election results for the three states will be out on March 3.