Gujarat verdict makes all parties happy in poll-bound Tripura

It was amusing to see all the three major political parties -- Congress, CPI-M and BJP -- in Tripura jubilant after the Gujarat assembly election results on Monday, though for reasons of their own.

To start with, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) termed the Gujarat assembly election outcome as "rejection of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by the people".

"Although BJP will form the government in Gujarat, they failed to secure support of the majority of people for their so-called 'Gujarat Model' (of development). BJP actually failed in their own bastion," Tripura CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar told the media.

"BJP used all forces and resources, but people clearly gave their message that they are against the saffron party," said Dhar, a CPI-M central committee member.

But, on the contrary, Tripura BJP unit chief Biplab Kumar Deb felt the poll outcomes in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh would greatly enthuse the BJP leaders and workers in Tripura and boost party's prospects in the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

"People of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have once again rejected the Congress and other opposition parties' 'baseless and conspiratorial propaganda' and welcomed the far-reaching steps like GST (Goods and Service Tax) and demonetisation," the BJP leader said.

Deb congratulated both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah for the "historic victory" in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections.

Celebrating the victory in the two northern states, BJP workers led by Deb took out a rally here on Monday afternoon.

The Congress in Tripura, however, described the BJP's victory in Gujarat as "artificial win".

"Congress got absolute mandate in rural Gujarat. This win will boost the morale of party in Tripura ahead of the assembly elections in February," Tripura Congress Vice President Tapas Dey said.

Left-ruled Tripura, along with Congress-governed Meghalaya, and Nagaland, where Naga People's Front-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) is in power, will go to polls simultaneously in February. The DAN is supported by the BJP.

--IANS

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