By Firstdespatch Desk Feb 09, 2023
Agartala, Feb 9 (FD) The ruling BJP on Thursday unveiled its election manifesto promising greater autonomy for tribal council, an increase in farmers’ monetary assistance and industry-specific manufacturing zones based on rubber, but remained silent about providing government jobs and DA for employees compared to its rivals CPI(M) and Tipra Motha.
Elections for the 60 member assembly in Tripura scheduled for February 16 will witness a three corner contest between BJP, Tipra Motha and Congress-CPI (M) combine.
Releasing the party’s manifesto for the February 16 assembly election in the state, BJP president JP Nadda said the party would restructure Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), constituting two third of the state’s geographic areas and home to the tribals, who form one third of the states estimated 40 lakh population.
The manifesto, which BJP named as Sankalpa Patra mentioned that the party will achieve historic permanent political solutions in a time-bound manner by taking all constitutional, legal, executive and administrative measures without affecting the territorial integrity of the tribal council.
Tipra Motha in its manifesto released on Feb 5 last promised to fight for creation of separate ‘Greater Tipraland’, by carving out the tribal council area and a police force for the tribal council, 20,000 new jobs and a one-time package for militants who surrender.
“Tipra Motha is fully committed to the core ideological demand of a permanent constitutional solution for the indigenous people of Tripura and until it’s not achieved, we shall continue to fight for the rights of our people,” he said.
The opposition CPI(M)-led Left Front in Tripura on Friday unveiled its manifesto for the assembly polls, promising 2.5 lakh new jobs, pension to poor senior citizens, and reintroduction of the old pension scheme and two DA hikes for government employees every year if it is voted to power.
However, The BJP’s manifesto is completely silent about giving jobs every year or any kind of hike in DA for its 1, 88,494 government employees and pensioners.
The saffron party, which captured power in 2018 by ending the 25 years Marxist rule, had promised to provide 2.5 lakh jobs in their five years rule, but adequate jobs were not provided during its tenure.
Asked about no commitment of jobs in the manifesto, the Chairman of the Sankalpa Patra, Dr. Ashoke Sinha said, “We have recently hiked DA for the employees and released many jobs for the unemployed. We are serious about the issue and will release jobs and DA for employees periodically, but do not want to make any false promise”.
The BJP also announced a Rs 5 meal scheme for all, named after religious guru Anukul Chandra, and setting up a Regional Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Agartala.
“We will take Tripura on the path of DTH - development, transformation and harmony,” Nadda said.
The manifesto said that the Balika Samriddhi bond of Rs 50,000 will be given to every girl child while the tribal language Kokborok will become subjects in CBSE and ICSE curricula.
“We will set up industry-specific manufacturing zones based on rubber, Agar and bamboo. The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi of Rs 6,000 will be raised with the state government providing Rs 2,000 more,” Nadda said.
He said, “We will ensure budgetary allocations to the Council in proportion to the population of its area and funds shall be transferred in a time-bound manner for holistic development and the
Council will have the authority to send proposals related to Centrally Sponsored Schemes directly to the Central Government”.
He said senior IGP level officers will be posted in Council areas who will coordinate with the Chief Executive Member of the Council for better administration of law and order and Customary Courts for tribals in the Council areas would be set up to protect and preserve the tribal customary laws and practices.
Nadda said, Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Tribal University would be set up in Gandacherra in Dhalai district to research, promote and preserve tribal culture and studies.
Political observers are of the view that the manifesto of BJP was made eying at the development of the tribals to counter Tipra Motha, which wants a separate state. FD JK