Tripura assembly polls 2023 | Confident of forming stable, pro-people Left Front-Congress govt: Jiten Choudhury

Jitendra Choudhury, 65, is a tall political personality of Tripura, holding the charge of state secretary of CPM for one-and-a-half years. His political career saw exponential growth for more than three decades after he became the minister of commerce in the 3rd Left Front government in 1993, marking his entry into the assembly. He continued as a minister for 20 years in the Left Front government. In the 2014 general election, Choudhury became a member of Lok Sabha, but lost the 2019 election to his nearest rival, Rebati Tripura of BJP. In the 2023 election, he is projected as the chief ministerial candidate of the opposition front.

Also See: Tripura ELection 2023 Live Updates

What is the prospect of the LF-Congress combine in Tripura?

The people of Tripura have decided to oust the BJP-led corrupt and anti-democratic government from power. BJP came to power in 2018 with tall promises, but it translated the reverse into action in five years. I am confident of forming a stable and pro-people government of the Left Front and Congress after March 2.

Why will people vote against BJP?

Tripura has never seen such a government, which has been continuously interfering in the personal life and liberty of the citizens of the state. It has dismantled democratic institutions, throttled the media, and carried out unabated attacks and violence on opposition party leaders and supporters. All five major elections in BJP's rule were rigged. BJP promised to provide 50,000 jobs every year, but has not given even 5,000. All the services were leased out to outsourcing companies in other states. The profit-making PSUs like the Tripura State Electricity Corporation, the Tripura Industrial Development Corporation and the Tripura Forest Development Corporation became sick at the hands of BJP in five years.

The Left is being accused of 25-year misrule in Tripura. Your comments.

The five years of BJP rule have redefined "misrule". Under the Left Front government, there were lapses in governance, but there was a rule of law. Under BJP, this has also been snatched away. The senior most leader of CPM and the longest-serving minister of the state, Badal Chowdhury, and former chief secretary, YP Singh, were put behind bars for six months by the former CM Biplab Kumar Deb government in a false case. More than 2,500 party offices of opposition parties were bulldozed by the state government. More than 600 people were implicated on sedition charges for criticising the government and its ministers on social media, over 45 journalists were attacked but no arrests were made, media houses in the city were set on fire in broad daylight by BJP cadres led by party state president Rajib Bhattacharjee. The government failed to provide even minimum healthcare during Covid-19, people died without treatment.

BJP is equating its five years of development with 25 years of communist rule

BJP doesn't even come close to the scale of development brought about by the last five years of the LF (2013-18). On the very first day, this government made inconsistent statements. While tabling a zero deficit budget in the assembly within a month of coming to power, the finance minister claimed the previous government had left a burden of Rs 10,000 crore on them, but couldn't justify if there was a loan burden. The previous CM has been saying his government in three years provided 25,000 jobs, but as per the government's latest statement, it gave 7,000 jobs. Like the PM Cares, the Tripura government set up the CM's relief fund during Covid, people donated a huge amount of money but it has no open record of expenditure. The BJP leaders were found taking bribes openly for providing houses under the PMAY and other government benefits. There was a complete breakdown of law and order.

What will be the priority of the LF-led government if voted to power?

Restoring democracy, the welfare schemes of the LF government, filling up all vacant posts in the government departments, stopping employment through outsourcing agencies, bringing back the old pension policy for the government employees, and ensuring peace and development.

Do you feel communism can go a long way with Congress?

Nothing can be predicted in politics. The political landscape of a socialist, secular and democratic country like India is changing with time. But during crises in the past, the Left had supported Congress for the interest of the country such as during former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's progressive actions like bank nationalisation and the abolition of Privy Purse. The Left had also supported the minority governments of Congress led by P V Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh.

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